Elgin Amateur Boxing Club quartet impress at Highland Boxing Academy show in Inverness

Rematches between Moray boxers and Inverness rivals were the order of the day at last week's Highland Boxing Academy show in Inverness.

Elgin Amateur Boxing Club, fresh from hosting their own show, sent four boxers to the Highland capital with two of the bouts being a direct rematch from the Moray event.

First up for Elgin was an impressive debut from 15-year-old Eilidh Mitchell, whose first competitive effort in the ring was an exhibition fight against home boxer Issabella Fioretti.

Elgin ABC head coach Paul Gordon described: "This turned out to be a right brawl with both girls landing bombs. At one point the ref had to remind the girls it was a non-scoring fight and to calm it down."

There was a point to prove for Elgin boxer Tyler Sked as he took on HBA's Robert Stewart in a 52kg bout, as Stewart had defeated him on points in the Elgin show a week earlier.

Gordon said it was a classic 'boxer versus fighter' match-up, with Sked's slick skills up against Stewart's aggressive style.

"Unlike last week where Tyler got dragged into a scrappy brawl, he listened to his coaches Iain Goldie and Arran Devine and boxed beautifully at range, securing the win this time," Gordon said.

Another rematch from a week earlier came next when Elgin's Marcus McEwan took on southpaw big-hitter Brodie Zindeldin from the home club.

The Inverness boxer won in Elgin and Gordon said: "This week both coaches thought the Elgin boxer had done more than enough to get the win, but unfortunately the judges saw it differently and the home boxer got the decision."

Finally, the main event of the nioght was a 63.5kg bout between Elgin's Jacob Ballingall and HBS's Cole Fraser.

"Once again these boxers have faced each other several times and each have been fantastic displays of the noble art," Gordon said.

"This time the HBA boxer, driven on by the home crowd, went into the last round neck-and-neck with the Elgin boxer.

"Jacob knew he needed a big round and gave just that. In the end, the 3/2 split decision to Jacob showed how close the fight was."

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.