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Lee to fight back

Dave Lawrenson
29/ 5/2008

LEE Gillespie is more determined than ever to become the first Salford boxer to win an ABA title since Steve Foster Junior after falling at the final hurdle of this year’s competition.

The 20-year-old Bridgewater Salford Amateur Boxing Club ace failed to perform to the best of his ability as he suffered a comprehensive points defeat to Stevenage Boxing Club’s Bradley Evans in the 57 kilograms final at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

But he did exceptionally well to reach the final, particularly in defeating the Lottery-funded competition favourite Martin Ward at the quarter-finals stage.

And he will not rest until he has joined the likes of Salford star Foster Junior plus Great Britain legends Nigel Benn and Frank Bruno into ABA title glory.

Lee Whitehead, who is one of Gillespie’s coaches at Salford Bridgewater ABC, said: "The ABAs is the most prestigious amateur boxing competition in the country.

"The competition is open to England internationals and Lee did really well to become the first Salford Bridgewater fighter to ever reach an ABA final.

"He has only been boxing for four or five years and he’s only had 20 fights. Some of the other ABA fighters have 100 fights to their name.

"But, unfortunately, the big occasion got to him in the final. He didn’t perform anything like he can do while his opponent boxed really well.

"But there is always next year. Lee is determined to win an ABA title. He will have learnt a lot from this year’s experience and I certainly fancy his chances of becoming an ABA champion in the future."

Gillespie’s clubmate Martin Mongon has also recently suffered a 57kgs points defeat.

The 17-year-old was edged out 3-2 on points by Birtley Boys ABC’s highly-rated Joe Saunders in the Junior ABA quarter-finals in Newcastle.