ST IVES Boxing Club will take its biggest ever entry to the novice championships in Peterborough tonight (Wednesday).

ST IVES Boxing Club will take its biggest ever entry to the novice championships in Peterborough tonight (Wednesday).

Six fighters – Hayden Beasley, Bradley Chapman, Tommy Maguire, Jesse Smith, Mark Cade and super heavyweight Teerso Sugden – are all entered for the mid-Anglian finals of the class A and B novices.

Chapman and Smith are likely to be awarded byes this evening, while the other four will all be in first round action.

Beasley, in particular, will be desperate to get back into the ring after a devastating light heavyweight points loss at the hands of Wesley Clarke when topping the bill at St Ives BC’s show at Burgess Hall earlier this month.

Clarke, of Fulbourne ABC, was amazingly awarded the fight despite having been dominated for three rounds with strong combinations to the head and body.

Head coach Stephen Whitwell said: “Unbelievably the bout was awarded to Clarke on a majority decision, which was the only bout on the night which the judges clearly got wrong.

“Clarke himself was very surprised to have got the win as, although Beasley did tire badly in the last round and let Clarke back in the fight, it was never enough to give the bout away.

“But, even thought he didn’t get the nod, I’m sure he will be confident of a win tonight.”

Beasley was one of nine Ives fighters in action at the Burgess Hall, with a number of the club’s younger boxers back in the ring.

Martin Rooney rubberstamped his position as one of the best boxers in the country in his weight class after taking a majority decision against Faversham ABC’s Reece Kelly, who is ranked number four in the country.

Scott Pepper lost to Southend’s George Sloan on a unanimous decision, while Shona Whitwell set herself up nicely for the upcoming nationals after getting a majority decision against Cambridge’s Demi Retsztan.

Bradley Smith was unlucky not to beat Arena ABC’s Danesh Khan, Joe Errington was narrowly edged out by Harry Blair of Gosport ABC, while Tom Martin made a successful return to the ring with a unanimous points win over Jobran Butt of Finchley ABC.

Also in action, Mark Cade was back in the ring after 18 months away but lost to Shepshed ABC’s Robert Steven, while Bradley Chapman lost a tight majority decision against the experienced Olaf Sirmanis of Eastgate ABC.