Sport

UK PARAs Triumph Over US In Epic Boxing Battle

The boxers of 3 PARA have added another honour to their impressive list of achievements in the ring.

Beating their American counterparts from the 82nd Airborne Division on their own patch.

In so doing they took the Sicily Cup for the first time .

The tournament at North Carolina's Fort Bragg had been two years in the making and was held to mark the end of the Joint Forcible Entry Exercise (JOAX).

An exercise that saw a huge number of men parachuting together before taking part in a series of intense combat drills.

Ready to blow off some steam at the end of the mission three and a half thousand troops gathered in the Ritz Epps Gym to mark it in style.

Because the Americans couldn't raise enough boxers of sufficient standard only the final five counted towards the title.

That didn't stop Tyler Johnson and Antonia Lavette in Bout One, taken by the PARA.

The USA fought back in the second contest, Matthew Sheldon and Kamryn Dungy slugging it out so hard that Sheldon won an award for most gallant boxer.

The PARAs skipper Tom Barry was far too strong for Kanal James, his strength really telling at the end of Round 3.

The evening also witnessed a terrific all American women's contest... Alex Love of the US Army taking a points decision over Natalie Gonzales for the second time in their careers.

The 82nd Skipper Sandy Rivas was always likely to pose problems for Ben Swarbrick, and after a brutal first round it settled down with the American just collecting enough points to sway the judges in a brilliant bout.

With the home side one up and the first to three claiming the spoils Elias Dexter was on a mission for 3 PARA.

He had Davon Dudly in all sorts of trouble - saved by the bell the US boxer fought back bravely, but the Leicestershire lad was the clear winner.

Bout 7 was a novice encounter, but no one fought more bravely all night than Charlie Tomset and Joseph Galavez. It was so tight going into the last round, but Tomset was given the nod... it must have have been marginal though.

Lewis Kerley had his work cut out against Imo Leti from the 1st Cavalier Division. Kerley had a big height advantage and used it well in Round 1. Leti shaded the second round and it was close in the third... but good enough for the PARA to take the bout and with it seal the trophy.

It also meant Liam Giles knew his bout wasn't crucial for victory. It didn't stop him from putting Antonio Lester on the ropes early in Round 1. But Lester to his credit, battled it out in Rounds 2 and 3, only to lose on points, 3 PARA taking the spoils 4-1 much to the delight of their outgoing Commanding Officer.