Championship boxing is back and must stay

CRACKING night, cracking entertainment.

The CI boxing powers owe it to their boxers and the punters to progress the revival of inter-island boxing.

In a nutshell, blow the ABA in London, this is too good a sporting opportunity for today's and future fighters in Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney to miss.

However it is packaged to suit the ABA, such nights must continue.

It's also important to recognise the role of the blues in this reawakening of inter-island title bouts, because, as Saturday night again highlighted, Ridunia never stops churning out tough, talented and well-drilled fighters.

It's been going on for decades, right back to the days of the great Don Cosheril, who fought professionally.

In the late-70s and early 80s, it was the Rose brothers, Paul and Nigel, along with Arthur Jupp and Nigel Shaw, who invariably came down to Guernsey and conquered.

I would pay to see a computerised fight between Paul Rose and Matt Jennings. Fast forward to 2009 and it's the likes of Adam Rose (Paul's son), Dave Chadney and Chris Sumner who are flying their flag, and the performance of the latter was particularly impressive.

There is no doubt the youngster is worth exposure to the ABA championship trail, as is Guernsey's Bradley Watson.

After a couple of iffy years and some poor performances, his win over the small but tough Ricky Pryor re-emphasised his exciting potential.

His balance, footwork, movement and variety of punch was hugely impressive.

On top of that his overall strength also seems to have increased and this latest display suggested he is now more confident with his own ability and no longer simply a flash kid attempting to emulate his hero, Prince Naseem Hamed. There is a very fine boxer in there.

ON THE day that Bels could put one hand on the old Priaulx Cup with victory over North, it's worth considering who might be the coach who succeeds the most successful boss in the Track club's century-plus history.

For whatever you think about Micky Ogier's style, you simply cannot ignore his impressive record.

Bels were going nowhere fast when he took over mid-season from Ray Queripel four years ago and, if they win today, will be looking good for their third Upton Park appearance in four years.

'Budlo' has ruled in strong fashion and the players have, in the main, consistently responded to his ways.

So how do Bels replace a man, who gives a clear impression that he is going to go out smiling and is more relaxed than ever in that waste of time and space entitled the technical area?

Even when he was keen to expose Vale's alleged

side-stepping of the rules relating to coaching from the 'TA' in a recent game, he did it with not a trace of steam funnelling from his ears.

I wouldn't say he's gone soft, because it will probably come back to bite me if I did, but he wears the expression of a man who is happy in the knowledge that he's already done more than the job of which he was asked.

So who to replace him?

Ian Champion's name has been championed but, Bels' supremo and main decision maker, Hilary Sarre, should be wary of his trait for never lasting anywhere long.

Does he promote from within and allow Leighton Chainey to take strain off his dodgy ankles by stepping up from within the ranks?

Or do they try elsewhere?

Whoever is offered the job, will have a tough act to follow.

Ogier's name will live on for generations at Bels.