Busy Jennings pulls out of ABAs

MATT JENNINGS has called off his return to the ABA title trail just four days before he was expected back in the ring. The Guernsey favourite, who was due to box in Bristol tomorrow evening, told Graham Guilbert, his coach, on Wednesday evening he would not be boxing.

Although disappointed, Guilbert defended his boxer's decision.

'He's bought a house and decided that he hasn't got the time to train properly. He asked me if I'd mind if he gave this year's ABAs a miss.'

Guilbert had high hopes for his man, although he was

due to face classy opposition.

In 2002, Jennings bowed out of the ABAs to Woking's David Candasarmy in the quarter-finals of the cruiserweight section, but the 13-and-a-half stone (86kg) cruiserweight category was abandoned by amateur boxing's controlling body last year.

That left the Guernseyman with the choice of moving up to heavyweight or dropping down to 81kg.

Jennings had taken the latter option and was due to face a difficult opponent in Yate-based Paddy Smyth, for his return to the championship stage.

The 23-year-old Synwell man is a former Western Counties champion who has enhanced his reputation with more impressive results on the other side of the Irish Sea.

Smyth, who also boxes for the St Patrick's gym in Keady, County Armagh, has collected several Ulster light-heavyweight crowns and is a former All-Ireland finalist.

He bowed out in the semi-finals of this year's Irish championships after a performance he described as 'a bad day at the office'.

Guilbert now hopes to pair Jennings, who will continue to box in local promotions, and Smyth at the Guernsey Dinner Boxing Club's March Show.

'I will definitely bring him over for that one,' he said yesterday.

Guilbert still has one boxer in action in Bristol tomorrow. Talented youngster Tom Martin is in the Western Counties Schoolboy ABAs and should he win his opening bout early in the afternoon, he will be expected to climb back into the ring for a second one in the early evening.