The Royal Navy boxing squad has rounded off an outstanding season with another win – a 4-1 victory over a Scotland Select.

The Navy’s national champion Mne Mick O’Connell and Combined Services champion OM Mac McDonald were given walkovers after their opponents failed to show, while Mne Dave Tang took less than two minutes to knock out his man.

AEA McElwee won his bout on a unanimous decision.

Top billing on the night went to the bout between Mne Jim Cusick and Great Britain Under 21 champion Willie Billans, who was unbeaten in three years – a contest which drew local and national media as well as Scottish national selectors.

Cusick attacked from the first bell, showing no respect to his opponent’s reputation, and four rounds of amateur boxing at its best brought a standing ovation from the crowd and the accolade of best bout of the night.

Cusick lost by a single point, but the defeat was tempered by his instant selection for Scotland in a match against Ireland which brought him his international debut.

The season has seen Navy boxers rewarded for three years of hard work by almost unparalleled success.

Every man has a national ranking, three have international caps, one man took the national ABA heavyweight title, and they recently defeated a top-class Army team at the Cafe Royal in London.

This season’s results:
v Home Counties, won 7-1;
v Western Counties, won 6-1;
v Southern Counties, won 8-1;
v London Select, won 3-2;
v Australia Select, won 7-6;
Inter-Service Championships, won 2-1;
v Irish Police, won 5-4;
v Army, won 3-2.

International honours:
Lt Micky Norford (HMS Raleigh), international referee;
POPT Q Shillingford, England ABA Advanced Coaching Course;
Mne Dave Tang (RM Poole), Wales international;
Mne Mick O’Connell (RM Poole), England international;
Mne Jim Cusick (RM Poole), Scotland international;
OM Neil Suku (HMS York), England squad;
OM Shaun McDonald (HMS Invincible), England squad.

THE Royal Navy Boxing Association has publicly thanked all ships and units for releasing boxers, allowing the Navy to build one of the best squads in the country.