JAKE Hollings from the Portland ABC and Reuben Walkey from the Exmouth ABC got a quality Exmouth show off to a flying start setting the stage for an action packed evening of boxing.

Dorchester ABC boxer Maryanne Cooper-Mills also excelled in a skills bout thus no winner or loser against Exmouth’s Eloise Boble.

Although only a skills bout, both Hollings and Walkey showed solid defences and combinations.

Every punch thrown came back from the opposition and both boxers worked well behind good defences.

The second round saw the pace setting into a more furious action where Hollings looked to be calling the shots, although on the back-foot Walkey looked calm, determined and confident still dodging and throwing punches.

The third round saw Hollings full of vigour showing clever defences, although Walkey took punches on his gloves, he was weathering the storm well and looked like he was enjoying the experience.

Suddenly chaos erupted, when the referee stopped the bout with only a few seconds remaining, nobody seemed to understand what and why this questionable decision had arisen.

Nobody was aware of any problems, somebody said that Hollings was too strong, using ram-rod reflexes. It was a great skills match and both boxers deservedly had their hands held high.

The girls’ match meanwhile saw a breathtaking display and it proved to be a well-matched contest, where the trading of feints, punches and dodges was non-stop.

Cooper-Mills stood her ground in the first round, counter punching whilst Boble came forwards throwing jabs.

The second round saw Cooper-Mills using speed and pushing off from the back foot catching Boble, enabling her to control the contest where both boxers never stopped trading punches.

The third round saw Cooper-Mills able to force Boble back into her corner.

To the delight of the Exmouth spectators, Boble regained control and composure to seize prime position.

This soon turned to groans as Cooper-Mills came back with a renewed force beating her opponent to the punch.

Both girls were thrilled with the experience of their first bouts.

There will be a re-match, which will be hosted next month at Torbay, on Saturday, May 4.

Maryanne said: “Eloise has very tight defence, I hope I never meet anyone tougher than her in the ring again.”