sport - laura saperstein page 39 harry: ‘i’ll turn lennon into a spurs legend’ tel...

Sport Page 39 Harry: ‘I’ll turnLennon into aSpurs legend’

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Chelsea inLondon derby

Boxergirl triumphs at York HallBOXING BY BEN PEARCE

LAURA Saperstein stretched her unbeatenrecord to seven professional fights onSunday, winning all four rounds tooutpoint Galina Gumliista from Sofia inBulgaria.

Saperstein was due to face LarnaCooper at York Hall, but her Welshopponent withdrew with flu three daysbefore the bout, and a fight againstGumliista was hastily rearranged instead.

Tottenham’s “Boxergirl” gave away 9lbsin weight against her new adversary, butshe emerged victorious regardless,

winning on points by 40 to 32.“I kicked some ass but not quite

enough,” Saperstein told theJournal. “I was close to stoppingher in the second round but didn’t

quite manage it.“She wasn’t the opponent I’d

prepared for and, although she wasn’tever a threat, she’s had 24 fights and

knew what she was doing – shecertainly could take care of herself andI took some big hits.”

Saperstein (pictured) admits shewasn’t thrilled with her performanceand, with a potential title fight against

Lindsay Scragg looming later in the year,the 37-year-old has a lot of work to do inthe coming months.

“I wasn’t totally happy, but it was my firstfight back in England after 10 months awayin Thailand and I haven’t had much timewith my new coach,” she said.

“I need a couple of days to get my eyesgoing in the right direction again, but thenI want to get back in the gym and work ona few areas which need improving.

“I’m definitely not feeling ready for atitle fight, and I need to start fighting morerounds – I need to get up to six-round boutsbecause the title fight would be 10 rounds.”

BOXING BY IAN COOPER

IT WAS a night to remember forHaringey Police ABC at the ABASenior Boxing Championships inWembley last Thursday night.

Four of the borough’s fighters made it throughthe north-west divisional finals and will fightat the London finals at York Hall tonight(Thursday).

Hopes were high at a packed Brent TownHall, and Erik Ochieng quickly powered hisway through his 69kg semi-final against JohnBrennan of Dale Youth.

Over three two-minute rounds,Ochieng laid on some big hits inthe second and third rounds, usinghis quicker movement to goodeffect, bobbing and weaving tocome through and win on aunanimous decision beforegoing on to win the final.

Mark McKray also survived atough bout in the 60kg semi-final. Against Andy O’Neill of HayesAmateur Boxing Club, Haringey’sfighter had the advantage in bothheight and weight.

The referee was forced to stop the

contest in the third round after O’Neill wasoverpowered and took a standing count. McKraywas awarded the win, and it was the same outcomein the final.

Ryan Taylor faced Islington Boxing Club’sCarlos Moreno in the 64kg quarter-final, and thecontest was stopped in the second round withTaylor declared the winner.

In the semi-final, Taylor came up againstMarlon Mellish of Times ABC, and edged a high-quality fight to win on a majority decision.

He then had to wait until Saturday to enter thering for the final, where he defeated Tommy

Tear at a Tottenham & Enfieldshow to book his spot at York Hall.

Sam Ojomo made it an extraspecial night for Haringey’sfighters on Thursday when hecame through his 54kg final.

Ojomo had his opponent onthe back foot in the second and

third rounds, keeping DannyRowe of Dale Youth on the ropes for

long periods and winning the bout on amajority decision.

There was disappointment for James Easyin the 75kg category as he was beaten byDale Youth’s Louis Reid in the semi-final.

Ben Zarakani also made an early exit

Race is last thingon Collins’ mind!ATHLETICS

ENFIELD & Haringey AC’s ShaunCollins will represent England in theUnder-20 Home Countries crosscountry international in Bangor.

Selected after his ninth place finish inthe recent National CC championship atParliament Hill Fields, he faces a lotmore than just a trip to Wales to collecthis first England vest.

Collins flew to Tenerife on Tuesdaywith the club’s middle distance traininggroup for a week of warm weathertraining before the coming season.

Having learnt of his selection longafter booking the trip, Collins willreturn home late on Thursday night,compete in Bangor and then fly back tothe Canary Islands on Sunday.

Kart champ is back on trackGO-KARTING BY SARAH ABEDIN

REIGNING British Easykart championOliver George started the defence of his titlewith a third placed finish in the first roundof the 2009 championships in Daventry.

The 25-year-old from Cornwallis Squarein Upper Holloway, who is proudlydisplaying the champion’s number oneemblem on his kart this year, made a solidstart to his campaign and finished well outof a grid of 32 drivers.

“Whilton Mill is not my favourite trackand I had a few minor brake problems, so Iwas pleased to have finished third. It’s asolid position,” said George (pictured).

Last year he came first in five of the eightrounds but, with new drivers comingthrough, George knows the competitionwill be even tougher this year – and he hasworked out a game plan for the campaign.

“It’s a long season and my best tracks are

in the second half, so consistent results inthe first four races will be the key toretaining my title,” he said.

Round two is in South Wales over theweekend of April 25/26, and George isquietly confident.

“Llandow has always been a good trackfor me, and I won there last year,” he said.I’ve had a promising start so I’ll be lookingfor a repeat of that performance.”

from the competition in the 64kg class – thecategory that Taylor later won – when he waseliminated by Tommy Tear of Dale Youth, andChris Evangelou also failed to make an impact inthe same division.

But Haringey nevertheless had the winner infour of the weight classes, and Ochieng, Taylor,McKray and Ojomo will now go on to fight for aplace in the national finals.

Haringey Boxing Club coach Gerry Willmottwas delighted with the club’s performance andbelieves they can repeat their success tonight.

“I think all four have got a great chance. They’reall good enough and in this game one punch issometimes all you need to end it,” he said.

Stellar night forborough boxers

nn WEMBLEY WARRIORS . . .Haringey’s Erik Ochieng (right),Ryan Taylor (below right, left)and Sam Ojomo (below left) allwon their divisions at BrentTown Hall in Wembley toadvance to tonight’s London finals at York Hall.Pics: Gerard Farrell.