NEW boxing club Redditch Community ABC got off to the best possible start at Kingshurst Lab-our Club.

Team captain Itsham Huss-ain won a unanimous points decision against home fav-ourite James Curtis in a clash of quality lightweights.

Hussain started cautiously in the bout at Chelmsley Wood, as he worked out ways of getting past his opponent’s much longer reach. The Redditch fighter was elusive as he slipped and rolled under his opponent’s punches.

With only seconds remaining in the round, he landed a beautiful southpaw left hook that landed flush on Curtis’s jaw, leaving him unsteady.

The second round saw the Redditch Community boxer take the bout to his much taller rival, landing double jabs and hard left hands to head and body. His hand speed and co-ordination were a credit to the hours of hard work he puts into his training.

The final round was Hussain’s most emphatic as he drove Curtis on to the ropes with heavy punches, unleashing hard hooks to his opponent’s ribs without reply.

He was relentless and at one point it looked like the referee might step in to save the brave Birmingham fighter from any more punishment.

At the end of the bout there was little doubt who the judges would go for as the Redditch Community fighter was declared the winner by a clear margin.

Coaches Todd Reeves and Sarah Lee, who have set up the new amateur club, were delighted with Itsham’s performance.

“Itsham is a very talented boxer who trains hard and listens to instructions, it was a fantastic performance, we couldn’t have asked for a better start to for the club,” they said.

Redditch Community ABC currently train at Studley Football Club and are looking to build a squad of junior and senior male and female boxers. For more details, call Lee 07541 133844 or email barnburner@hotmail.co.uk