Falmouth and Penryn Amateur Boxing Club’s Callum Nancholas lost a close split decision in the senior 75kg middleweight category on the Exmouth Amateur Boxing Club’s show Friday October 8.
The sell-out show took place at the spectacular Ocean Suite on Exmouth’s beachfront and saw 15 entertaining bouts take place, culminating in a senior Western Counties title fight.
The bout was a huge step up in class for Nancholas whose opponent Bailey Nixon of Blue Flames ABC, Taunton, has contested three times the number of bouts than the Falmouth and Penryn boxer.
Despite it being Nancholas’s first fight in two years, he showed no signs of rust and immediately got to work from the opening bell, jumping in and out of range and ducking underneath several of his taller opponents’ shots whilst landing his own.
Nancholas was the far busier fighter in the first round, the 22-year-old pressured the Taunton man throughout and connected with a powerful straight right hand that earned a cheer from the crowd and surely secured the round for himself.
The pace slowed in the second round which suited Nixon, the bigger fighter was able to use his size to control the centre of the ring and had much more success in finding his jabbing range.
The round was competitive and Nancholas worked well off the back foot catching Nixon several times with counter overhand rights and left hooks which caused the oncoming fighter to stop momentarily.
Nixon came out in the third round with desire, instantly firing off left jab after jab forcing Nancholas back. The Falmouth and Penryn boxer managed to keep a cool head and maintained his composure, enjoying some success in close quarters.
However, Nixon in his 35th fight was able to use his experience and size to his advantage to claim the most decisive round of the bout.
Both boxers showed a high level of competence and displayed a wide range of punches in what was clearly one of the most skilful bouts of the evening, but the judges decided it was to be the Blue Flames Boxer had his arm raised.
Undeterred by the result Nancholas is straight back into training for his 12th amateur contest where he is hoping to get back to winning ways on the St Ives ABC show Saturday October 30.
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