Bideford Boxing Club hosted there first show of the year to a sell-out crowd at the Durrant House Hotel. The crowd were spoilt with 12 top class bouts, with 10 of them involving Bideford boxers.

Boxer of the night was awarded to Bideford’s Dylan Burston, who boxed Welsh Champion Joe Anthony. Initially, things didn’t go to plan, as Burston was sent crashing to the canvas with a straight left cross.

By the 2nd round, Burston started finding his range and teeing off with big punches. A looping left hook forced a standing count and the onslaught continued in the last, as Burston showed superior power and fitness, putting Anthony on the back foot with solid combinations.

Before the bell, Anthony received another standing count, as he was wobbled again, this time by an overhand right sealing the unanimous points win for Burston.

There was more big punchers to close the show in a local derby, Bideford’s James Dearson versus Barum’s Isaac Alibi in a light heavyweight contest.

Alibi came out swinging in big hooks trying to back Dearson up. Dearson stayed composed, found gaps in Alibis defence and it was a left hook followed by a straight right which knocked the Barum boxer out to seal the win by a first-round knockout.

Experienced local boxer Kai Avery had his first fight for Bideford and got off to a winning start, beating Matt Peters from St Just, a tall southpaw. Jackson Passmore showed plenty of class in a dominant performance against Marcus Miller from Port Talbot Bulldogs, while younger brother Charlie Passmore put up a good fight in a rematch against Torbay’s Blake Trott, losing out on points.

Callum Newman had the crowd on their feet with his all-action win over Plympton’s Joe Baber. Evan Suggate found a big burst of energy in his last round against Brie Truscott from Falmouth to gain a unanimous points win.

Tom Finch went down to a split points decision against Jordan Sapey from St Just. Charlie Murdoch defeated Falmouth’s Harry Morris on points. Youngster Harley Pugh displayed his potential and Barum’s Clem Hughes stopped Jed Anthony from Wales.