Stubbs targets ABA hat-trick

BOXING CLEVER: Thomas Stubbs catches Darren Langley with a left in last year’s ABA final and pictured inset.

Boxing:

NORTHSIDE ABC star Thomas Stubbs is gunning for his third straight ABA title on Friday night.

The Chadderton fighter takes on Ben Fowl in the 48kg section at York Hall, Bethnall Green.

He set up the repeat showdown after defeating Anthony Dillon (Newcastle) 11-9 over three, two-minute rounds in the last four of the coveted competition.

Stubbs (20) saw off Fowl, from Hertfordshire, by a wide points margin two years ago in the ABA final, before defending his crown against Darren Langley 12 months later.

He said: “I beat the kid a couple of years ago so I won’t be going into the fight lacking confidence.

“I’m not saying it will be easy because he’s improved since then but he is only 4ft 9in, so the reach will be the difference.

“I haven’t had to do much research but I watched him in the quarter-finals and to be honest he should have been beaten. He only won it by a point.”

Most of Stubbs’ week is spent training at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, where he links up with Olympic hopefuls in the Great Britain podium squad.

He was in the provisional 11-man development squad for the London Games, but has been elevated to the group of boxers which are targeting gold-medal glory.

Stubbs’ coach Joe Pennington said: “His training has been top class, he’s a very dedicated lad so as a coach I can’t have any complaints.

“The only thing he is struggling with a little bit is getting his weight down, which is a common problem among tall boxers.

“He will get there, it’s just the last couple of pounds that are always painful to achieve.”

But Pennington admitted his young charge will have to be at his best to beat Fowl.

He added: “Fowl is a tricky little fighter. He has fantastic footwork and waits for a chance to pick you off.

“It’s a huge night. A third straight ABA title is a big deal for the north-west and I’m confident Thomas will do the business.”

As with many amateur fighters, funding is hard to come by. If you are interested in sponsoring Stubbs, call (0161) 678 6963.