IT has been a busy few months for members of Weymouth Amateur Boxing Club – in and out of the ring.

President David Nelmes and wife Margret represented the club at a special civic reception held by Weymouth and Portland Mayor Ray Banham and Mayoress, Pamela Nixon.

Weymouth ABC has been part of the community for the last 80 years, including 63 at their current gym, and it was one of a number of organisations recognised for the work it does.

The club president was also a judge at the international match between England and Wales in Hereford, where Iain James was the timekeeper, and Nelmes will officiate again at this year’s ABA Schoolboys Finals in Huddersfield.

Meanwhile, a number of Weymouth boxers have been fighting at shows in Sturminster and Poole.

In the first of those, 12-year-old Oliver Carr had a successful debut against Brandon Haddon, claiming a unanimous points victory.

Carr put pressure on Haddon from the first bell and continually forced his opponent onto the back foot, catching him with good lefts and rights to the head.

The second half of the contest was more eye-catching and Carr found the target with increasing regularity to run out a comfortable winner.

Jack Barlowe, 15, took on Salisbury’s Martin Castle, who he beat last year. On this occasion, Barlowe made a sluggish start, giving Castle the opportunity to let his punches go and win the first round.

Barlowe advanced purposefully behind a tight guard, landing rights over the top to score and leaving the result all on the final round.

The Weymouth youngster began it well but Castle came back into it and stole a split decision.

Over in Poole, William Mullen, also 12, took on Avalon’s John Bowers in his first ever bout.

Both fighters tried to counter-punch the other and at the end of the second round Mullen was caught with a succession of punches that forced the referee to stop the contest.

Super heavyweight Lee Thompson faced experienced Poole amateur Callum Johnson in a fight that was close throughout.

Thompson kept to his game plan but this wasn’t enough as Johnson took the verdict on points, though the Weymouth coaches thought their man had done enough to win.

Finally, due to circumstances beyond the club’s control, they will not be able to hold an April boxing show.

However, the club is still interested in staging one in May and anyone with an available venue is asked to contact info@weymouthabc.co.uk