All set: Jernair Thompson, Lewis Fattahi & Robbie Chapman

Published: 15 October, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

FIGHTERS from St Pancras Amateur Boxing Club are being tipped to hit the heights because of “a newfound camaraderie” doing the rounds in the gym. 

The Kentish Town-based club have started the season in style with Jernair Thompson being crowned London champion, while Robbie Chapman won the North-West regional title. 

Coach “Big” Lewis Fattahi, who has been with the club for over 10 years, is adamant that the Saints will scoop a lot more silverware before the year is out. “The club has had some pretty special squads in the past, but this time around there’s an extra special camaraderie within the ranks,” he said. 

“The fighters are bouncing off of each other and motivating each other to stay in top, top shape, which means we can just focus on the technical stuff. 

“We don’t have to spend any time boiling them down to the right weight, which gives us more time to strengthen the attributes of each individual fighter. As a result the boys are stepping in between the ropes ready and roaring for action.” 

The evidence to back-up those claims was there for all to see when Thompson gained a unanimous points victory over Salim Saeed of Earlsfield ABC in the London ABA finals. 

The highly-rated lightweight was unlucky in the quarter-finals of the London verses Western Counties Senior Novice Championships, however, as he lost on points against Sol Gilday-Evans from Oakmead ABC. 

Middleweight Chapman looked equally ferocious when he beat Neasden Boxing Club’s Shakyle Johnson in the NW regional finals. 

But the fighter’s chances of adding the London crown to his cv were quite literally cut short in the final after a clash of heads against Broad Street ABC’s Roderick Douglas. 

The clash left Chapman with a bad cut over his right eye, forcing the referee to call a halt to the action. 

St Pancras ABC are hosting their annual open show at the Irish Centre in Camden Town next Thursday (October 22). Tickets cost £10 adults, £5 for Under-17s and can be purchased on the door. The action gets underway at 6.30pm.