Pair of aces aim to box clever

Thomas Stubbs: also an ABA hopeful

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OLDHAM could be celebrating a prestigious ABA senior double tonight.

Boxers Thomas Stubbs and Ronnie Heffron, who live only 10 minutes apart, are gunning for glory in the finals at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Stubbs (19) will have his sights set on retaining his 48kg title when he takes on Darren Langley, of Hollington, in the opening bout of the night.

But this will be an altogether new experience for 18-year-old Heffron, who goes head to head with Bradley Skeete (Earlsfield) in the 64kg section.

Stubbs, who is classed as the underdog against an opponent eight years his senior, firmly believes he can repeat his success of 12 months ago.

He caught the eye in reaching his second successive final, overcoming Michael Dylan 13-4 in the last eight before going on to beat Sammy Smith 17-5.

The Northside fighter said: “Darren is a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medalist and has a lot of experience.

“But I’m confident. I have reach advantage and if I can keep it at long range, I’m sure I can beat him.

“Anyway, I’ve trained too hard to lose.”

Heffron, like Stubbs an England international, is looking to add a senior crown to a hat-trick of junior ABA titles.

This is Heffron’s first attempt in the senior competition, and he got through to the final with an emphatic 33-8 win over Andrew Townsend after a much closer 20-13 defeat of Stuart Buckley in the quarter-finals.

Trainer Ben Lancaster, from the Boarshaw Boxing Club, said: “It’s a brilliant achievement by Ronnie.

“He’s an exceptional fighter and I’m very confident about his chances.

“It was an impressive win against Townsend in the semi-final.

“Townsend is exceptionally strong, but Ronnie dominated him from start to finish.”


NORTHSIDE ABC could be basking in a double of their very own by the time the curtain comes down on tonight’s action.

As well as Thomas Stubbs, they are represented by Blain Younis, who meets Iain Weaver (Golden Ring) in the 57kg final.