Off with the headguards at Forces dinner show

A select Cleary’s team made up of boxers from the Leamington gym, the cream of regional talent, including Sam Bowen (Earl Shilton ABC) and Hull crowdpleaser Ryan Fuller is taking on a combined Army and Navy squad at Warwick School.

The International Amateur Boxing Association’s decision to remove headguards from men’s amateur boxing at senior level affects six of the fights and Edwin Cleary says it should make for an improved spectacle.

“With crowdpleasers Wali Jan Khan, Myles Vale, Sam Bowen and super-heavyweight Ryan Fuller on the show it looks to be explosive night,” said Cleary of the ten-bout card.

As appetisers to the main event, England Youth national quarter-finalist Danny Quartermaine will take on Home Counties champion Harry Smith from Rose Hill ABC, while 15-year old Lewis Williams meets national champion Kerran Brown-Wingfield (Sileby ABC).

Brown-Wingfield represents a step up in class for the 6ft 3in Williams, but Cleary believes the emergence of Quartermaine this season has set the bar high for the rest of the gym.

“It’s a tough ask for Lewis in only his sixth bout,” he said. “But this is where he’s at - he’s that good.

“He’s another good lad to push the seniors and along with Danny is the future of boxing in Leamington.”

Boxing-only tickets for the dinner show are still available costing £11 with the action getting under way at 9pm.