Royal Navy boxers have returned from a tour to Australia which pitted them against the best fighters in New South Wales and to undertake a warm weather training camp in preparation of the Inter Services Championships, to be held at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth on January 23 and 30.

The squad stayed at HMAS Kuttabul, a naval base in Sydney, and trained at the base’s gymnasium as well as at Kostya Tszyu’s gym in Sydney, where the squad met the world champion on a number of occasions.

The squad consisted of 15 boxers, three coaches, two officials and two staff, whose main focus of attention were the two shows, both at the ex-Servicemen’s club at Coogee Randwick in Sydney.

The first show against the New South Wales Select matched six boxers, with the Navy winning four of the bouts.

Mne Adam Swainston, who boxed Justin Kalle at the 60kg division, found himself in a close bout, with the Royal Marine finishing strongly in the third to clinch it 16-13. Swainston had only had one hour’s notice to box after Kalle’s original opponent failed to arrive.

Mne Graham Alderson (71kg) boxed Ryan Walters, a strong opponent who was always coming forward. Alderson boxed well on the back foot, and a crucial factor was the warning received by Walters in the 3rd for a head foul. Alderson took the verdict 10-9.

Mne Davy Tang (75kg) boxed Nicholas Venizelou, a very tall, awkward opponent who made it difficult for the British to land scoring blows. The Australian won the bout 13-4.

OM Sean McDonald’s opponent was Daniel Baff (81kg), a very strong lad who was only 18 years old. McDonald started well, but his opponent came back in the 4th and rocked McDonald a few times. The final score was 15-15, with McDonald clinching it 69-63 on a countback.

Mne Andy Lowe (67kg) started very slowly in the 67kg division, seeming to give his opponent Billy Ward too much respect at first, but the tourist then started to use his jab to good effect. Despite scoring heavily in the fourth round, the Royal lost 20-15.

OM Tony Hindley, boxing at heavyweight, won 8-6 against Micheal Burke in a scrappy bout. Burke was taller and stronger than Hindley, who tired in the third, but the visiting fighter won by dint of his gritty determination. It was his first bout since January 2002 because of commitments at sea in HMS Ark Royal.

The second show, one week later, was a very different affair, with the Australians putting together a very strong squad from all over New South Wales, determined not to lose against the ‘Poms’.

The first bout, a rematch between McDonald and Baff, was all-out war, with both boxers going hammer and tongs at each other. McDonald survived two standing counts in the third against the very strong Australian No.1, only to lose 32-23 on the scorecard.

Mne Adam Swainston boxed again, this time against Shane McFarlane, but the Marine he couldn’t get into the bout and was being soundly beaten when coach Tommy McPhee threw the towel in half-way through the third.

AEM Vaughan Perkins (71kg) won by walkover when his opponent failed his medical.

Mne Stuart Ellwell (71kg) boxed an Iranian Anoushirvan Nourian from the Prize Fighters gym in Sydney. Nourian was a very cocky opponent for Ellwell, with lots of showboating and playing to the gallery, but he soon knuckled down when Ellwell dropped him in the first round. Nourian, with more than 200 bouts to his name, found the stocky Ellwell a tough opponent and Ellwell won 19-17 after four rounds.

Mne Barney Barnett (75kg) boxed Tyrone Tongia, also from the Prize Fighter gym, a very powerful boxer who caused the Briton problems from the start. Tongia was given a warning in the second for a low blow, but dropped Barnett twice in the third with body blows that almost lifted Barnett off his feet. The referee stopped the contest in the third in favour of Tongia.

Mne Jimmy Gaskell (81kg) boxed Danny Withers, from the Paul Hotz gym, despite the fact the Royal Navy man was suffering a slight shoulder injury. Gaskell boxed well in the first round, but struggled with the rest of the bout to lose 20-12.

OM Neil Suko (91kg) won by walkover when his opponent pulled out at the last minute for an unknown reason.

POPT Jason Steele (86kg), in only his tenth bout, gave his all against Australian No.2 Jamie Withers, older brother of Danny. Steele, but lost 36-22 to a very tough opponent. Withers, a skilful boxer, gave Steele a standing count in the third. This bout really got the crowd going, and both fighters were given a standing ovation at the end.

Mne Mick O’Connell (91kg) took on Danny Morgan from the City Of Sydney Club in a very scrappy bout, with both boxers receiving warnings for holding and head fouls. The more experienced O’Connell seemed to resort to the same tactics as his opponent, and at the final bell the score was a surprising 14-14, with O’Connell winning on a count-back by 54-48.

The final score after the two shows was 8-7 to the Royal Navy, a great result after a hard two weeks training and two shows against some tough opposition. The final two days were spent sightseeing in Sydney and resting before flying home.

The coaches for the tour were C/Sgt Tommy McPhee, Sgt Stu Carter and LPT Leo Leemans, and the officials were Lt Micky Norford and CPOMEA Jazz Jary.