Boxing Clever - The year that put Chester boxing on the map

So, we're well into the new year of 2012. But what a year 2011 was. It was a year that put Chester boxing on the map. It was the year that all the hard work came to fruition, where all the tough days at the gym bore fruit. 2011 was the best year in Chester boxing history.

Let's go back and talk about the achievements of the Chester boys, starting off with Paul Economides. It didn't start too well for Paul. In February he travelled down to Newport to face off against home town hero Robbie Turley for the vacant Welsh super-bantamweight title. Ten rounds later Turley had his hand raised by a score of 99-92 after frustrating Paul for 30 minutes. It was all in all a pretty bad night. The skills and improvements that we had witnessed in the gym were never put into practice due to the mobile style of Robbie Turley (a man who would go on to give 'Brick Fists' Frampton kittens in his next fight.)

Still, anyone who knows Economides will be aware that this man isn't ever going to lie down. He will continue fighting to achieve his destiny and this is exactly what he did, starting with a rematch against Pavels Senkovs in Liverpool.

I remember his first fight against Senkovs two years previously. He had won, but he looked open and was jumping in recklessly. He was always liable to walk onto a punch and get knocked out. This time it was different. He used the speed an movement that we had seen in the gym, but never in the ring. His movement was almost Hattonesque (Ray? - Ed.) and he pounded out a resounding points victory over the Latvian hard man. Now it was time for titles.

Economides would get a chance against previous victim Shaun Doherty. He challenged the Bradford man for the British Masters super-bantamweight title in October at the Northgate Arena in Chester. Doherty had won the title the same night Paul got beaten by Turley. He had battered former British title challenger Matthew Edmonds into submission in the tenth and many expected the longer distance to suit the skilful Doherty rather than the high energy Economides.

How wrong they were. After ten pulsating rounds, in what some considered the small hall fight of the year, Economides pounded out a victory by a score of 98-94 and he had finally achieved his dream of becoming a champion.

Many would think that was a good end to the year, that is might be a time to unwind and launch his attack on 2012. Not for Economides. More was to come. It was to get even better.

In December he got the call to fight Scot Gavin Reid for the vacant British Masters featherweight title. This was an even bigger test for Paul. Reid only ever got beaten by the class acts of the division, the likes of Quigg, Frampton and company. If you weren't part of the domestic elite he would beat you and most likely knock you out. I said at the time, if Economides fights like he did against Doherty, he would get beat. He would need to get even better if he wanted to win this one. And boy, he got better.

That night at the self-styled legendary home of British boxing, York Hall, was the day Economides announced himself to the British public. The performance was scintillating. The use of movement, angles, defence and savage attacks was something even better than I had expected. He won the title by a score of 97-95 but the belt was of secondary importance. This was a battle cry, a message of intent to Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton. The Spartan is here and he is coming for you.

For lightweight Chris Goodwin the year was also a resounding success. He didn't fight for the first ten months of the year, instead choosing to hone his skills in the gym with his father Steve. Though some may have questioned his inactivity, the proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say, and success certainly tasted good for the young man when he finally ventured out.

In October at the Northgate Arena in Chester he squared off against Geoffrey Munika of Kenya for the International Masters lightweight title. Munika had travelled the world fighting the best and had stopped former British title contender Ryan Barrett in six to win the belt. This was a huge step up for Chris and many wondered if it was a bridge too far at this stage of his career. Munika was definitely coming to win, and had even threatened to "bite Chris' ear off" if things weren't going well.

What we witnessed was a thing of beauty. Chris absolutely dominated Munika, making the veteran look like a novice. For those fans who may not have been up on the life and times of Geoffrey Munika this may even have looked routine. Those of us who knew exactly what Munika was bringing sat there open mouthed, we knew we were witnessing something special. Goodwin won by a score of 99-92 and even that looked generous to the African. Chris had become Chester's first champion, but it was pretty obvious that there was more to come from the flame haired youngster.

Chris was to become a two time champion less than a month later. He claimed the vacant International Masters welterweight title against Belgian Wesley Hertoghe over ten rounds by a score of 100-91. Granted Hertoghe wasn't the hardest opponent Chris will ever face, but it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase his talent in front of the capitals knowledgeable fans. They were impressed. Many commented that he was a major champion in waiting. You can't get much more complimentary than that.

So now we move on to 2012...to read the rest of Martin's article on the prospects for Chester boxing this year, click here