Midlands finals next on the horizon for Cleary’s pair

Quartermaine claimed a unanimous points decision over Reece Smith from Tom Lowe ABC in Kidsgrove, bossing a fight which on another day might have been stopped.

The Cleary’s boxer was simply too quick around the ring for his opponent, with Smith resorting to spoiling tactics as he struggled to cope with Quartermaine’s power.

Smith was docked a point for constant holding in the second round, with the referee forced to continually slap his hands down or pull the two fighters apart.

Williams, meanwhile, was unfazed by a change of bout order which meant he went out to face the previously unbeaten Ben Bywater (Ludlow) without having warmed up.

Advised by coach Jamie Bannister to stick and move for the first round and then pick it up in the second, Williams stunned Bywater with the power of his first jab.

A clean right hand forced a first standing count on Bywater and the same shot accounted for two more standing counts before the bout was ended inside the opening round.

Both Williams and Quartermaine now move on to Sunday’s Midlands finals and Cleary said their success is testament to the amount of work they have put in in the gym.

“I’m chuffed for both lads,” said Cleary. “They trained hard all over Christmas, putting in the time and only having a day off for Christmas Day.

“Both not only won but put in a performance, too.”

Cleary is still looking to attract new faces to the Wise Street gym, with several classes on offer for beginners on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in addition to a boxfit class on Saturday mornings.

For more information, log on to www.clearysboxinggym.co.uk