Myers and Donnelly earn standing ovation

DINNER boxing witnessed one of the most entertaining fights in years on Friday night.

The highlight of the Amalgamated Boys' Club's match Western Counties Select, which the visitors took 5-3, at St Pierre Park Hotel was the meeting between local super-heavyweight Alan Myers and Matthew Donnelly.

Not one for the pugilistic purist, it was still a fantastic brawl and it was Donnelly, 17, of Broad Plain's Boys' Club, Bristol, in his debut fight, who had his arm raised at the end.

It deserved a rare standing ovation from the knowledgeable crowd who had been sat on the edge of their seats during the three rounds of turbulent action.

It was also deservedly named the bout of the evening.

'It was up there with my best fights,' said the 18-year-old Myers, who by day is an apprentice engineer. 'I was disappointed with the result. I thought I had it. Oh well, I enjoyed it.'

A clearly enthralled Guernsey head coach Graham Guilbert was full of praise for his fighter. 'That was something else considering he only came back from holiday last night,' he said.