ST Ives Boxing Club member Tom Martin, 17, had his second fight in a week on Friday – and lost out to a far more experienced fighter on a judges’ decision.

Up against the former junior ABA champion and England representative Caine Brunning from Dereham, Martin put in a great performance – and lost out by a single point at the Wisbech show.

Martin’s trainer Steve Whitwell said: “I decided to give him the bait of a test and he had his first senior contest.”

The first round was cagey with both boys nicking points while counterpunching. In the second round Martin scored heavily to the head and body but did look a little wild at times. He seemed to go to sleep in the third round and let Brunning back in with his opponent counterpunching nicely against Martin’s aggressive attacks.

So it all came down to the fourth and although Martin looked the more tired of the two he held his own despite a nasty clash of heads.

Whitwell said: “He showed how much potential he really has and as this was also his first four-round contest I was very proud of the way he performed. He received praise from everyone at the show.

“I predict big things to come from Tom in the next couple of years especially when he develops into a real senior.”

Martin’s first fight of the week came in Cambridge where he beat Darren Timlin of the Gessala Boxing Club.

And on show there was Shona Whitwell who had her first bout since winning the schoolgirl championships against Ciara Ginty also from Gessala.

“Ciara Ginty has three Irish championships and was probably Shona’s best opponent to date,” said Whitwell. “The first round was close and Whitwell had a heavy nose bleed from the first punch landed but she didn’t let that upset her rhythm.”

After that Whitwell upped her game and was more aggressive in the second and third rounds defending well and landing some clean shots with her long left cross.

In the end she was awarded a unanimous decision.

“That’s a great result against a more experienced boxer,” said her trainer.