Big time Charley sets her sights high

A LOWESTOFT teenager is aiming to follow in the footsteps of her older team mate as she sets her sights on a possible shot at the Olympics.

Triple A boxing club's 16-year-old undefeated ABA champion Charley Davison moved 'a step closer' to selection for the London 2012 Olympics with her latest triumph.

And following Davison's impressive victory at the weekend in what was billed as a 'clash of the Titans' as two unbeaten Junior Female amateur boxers battle it out, the teenager is looking to accompany Anthony Ogogo in booking a place on the Great Britain squad in the future.

Women's boxing is to be introduced at the 2012 Olympics and Davison is hoping her good form can catch the eye of selectors and help her force her way into the Great Britain squad for the games.

The Jaguar Sports Club in Coventry hosted an eagerly-awaited ladies boxing champions bout at the weekend as Charley was invited to take part in a contest as one of the two most highly rated junior female amateur boxers in the country.

The clash couldn't have captured more attention as a capacity Coventry crowd witnessed a classic. With both fighters undefeated and both ABA Champions, Triple A's Charley Davison boasted a record of five wins and no losses as she took on Capital ABC's Shannon Caulfield (nine wins and no losses).

'The contest was billed as The Clash of the Titans and this was always going to be a tough and entertaining contest with one boxer facing the bitter taste of defeat for the first time in her career,' a club spokesman said this week.

As the bell rang for the first round the partisan home crowd followed Caulfield all the way and the round started with both girls on the attack.

Davison produced textbook southpaw jabs and straight lefts, while Caulfield responded with powerful hooks to the body and head. The home fighter made the first real move as she powered her way forward and forced the Lowestof teenager back on to the ropes as she sensed a tenth successive stoppage.

But after weathering that storm, Davison never looked back as she powered her own back into the bout with stinging southpaw jabs and powerful left hands that piled on the pressure and the points to the end of the round.

The second round saw much more of the same but a more determined Caulfield attempted to break through Charley's defence. 'Charley was now getting the measure of the tough Coventry girl as she landed more of her shots to the body and head and towards the end of the round Charley caught Shannon with a body shot that visibly slowed the ever-forceful Shannon making her retreat for the first time in the bout,' the spokesman said.

It was a dejected looking Caulfield that returned to her corner at the end of the second round as she became aware that her powerful style was not going to get the stoppage she had anticipated.

With the Lowestoft youngster having now got the measure of her strong opponent, combination after combination rained in on the Coventry girl and as the punches took their toll, the referee had to step in to administer a count of eight to give Shannon some respite.

'As the final bell rang both girls hugged each other in mutual respect and when the unanimous verdict in favour of Charley was announced, the crowd applauded a top class female bout,' the club spokesman said.

'Charley would like to give credit to Shannon as she was the toughest girl she has ever boxed, and she hopes this is another step towards Olympic selection for the Lowestoft girl.'

Anyone wishing to sponsor Charley Davison and aid with her Olympic quest please contact: The Triple A Boxing Club in St Johns Road, Lowestoft or telephone 07739 760 950.