Billy back to his best at Haringey Box Cup

The ‘Alderney Assassin’ landed three wins in as many days to seal a 75kg title at last weekend’s Haringey Box Cup, billed as Europe’s largest amateur boxing competition.

Coming off a shock quarter-final defeat at the National Amateur Championships two months ago, a heavier and happier boxer took plenty of confidence from this stellar showing at London’s Alexandra Palace.

‘I needed it after my poor performances at 71kg,’ he said.

‘I just did not feel like I was the best version of myself. When I was at that weight, I just did not feel very confident.

‘It was nice to come back and get three solid performances and pick my confidence up for the next five weeks of hard training.’

That hard training will, of course, be directed at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Last Friday’s 4-1 split decision against the RAF’s Arran Devine replicated his first triumph of this Commonwealths build-up.

After outpointing Devine last October on his return to the ring, the Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club star fought similarly well in a competitive rematch against the current Scottish champion.

The following day, Le Poullain boxed superbly for a unanimous win against Triumph ABC’s Amara Kabba.

He adapted well to Kabba’s southpaw style and controlled the bout from start to finish, boxing on the edge of his range and timing his attack moments nicely.

Entering Sunday’s final feeling unbeatable, he finished on the high of a unanimous victory over White Hart Lane ABC’s Mathis Dalle. Dalle had a stand-off counter-punching style, forcing Le Poullain to use his boxing IQ to get into range to land punches, which he did well throughout the contest.

Le Poullain dropped his opponent in the second round briefly and then stepped it up in the third to give him two standing counts.

Meanwhile, GABC colleague Tommy Teers overcame his own NACs disappointment to make the 51kg final.

After missing his potential NAC elite bow through illness, he defeated the silver-medallist of this year’s competition on the Saturday.

That came in a great 4-1 split decision win over Lambton Street ABC’s Thom Marley.

But on Sunday, he lost to GB boxer Ellis Trowbridge via a unanimous decision.

Teers gave a good account of himself in a surprisingly close duel against a classy opponent, who is a two-time NAC elite champion.

‘Great experience for Tommy boxing someone of this level,’ GABC head coach Ben Duff said.

‘Tommy has only had 20 bouts, so boxing these high-level opponents early on has been a great learning experience and will make him better and stronger.’

Le Poullain credited Ben and Tom Duff for bringing on both fighters and said: ‘It’s [about] everyone that puts the work into us behind the scenes.’