Boxing: Jaxon lays down the Laws in super Steels success

The 16-year-old looks to be going from strength to strength, evidenced by his points victory over Horden’s Aiden Higham.

Laws kept Higham at range throughout, firing in some crisp jabs to the head while showing great defence throughout and some clever boxing to take the contest by a unanimous decision.

He also clinched the best boxer of the night award, winning the Steve Austin Trophy.

Joel Hassan was unlucky to be outpointed by South Durham’s Dominic Ross.

The teenagers, both making their senior debuts, produced a hard-fought contest.

Hassan looked to have done the cleaner work, but the 17-year-old lost on a split decison.

Team-mate Travis Waters took on Tom Cowling in a toe-to-toe encounter.

Cowling, from South Normanton, looked to land hard shots, however 19-year-old Waters boxed well behind his southpaw jab, bringing in some wicked hooks to body and head and looking the better boxer, winning by a split decison.

Sunderland ABC’s Wallace McLeod also had Yorkshire opposition against Jack Hughes (Burmantofts).

Schoolboy national champion McLeod started well, picking off the game Leeds boy with some fast hand combinations to head and body.

Leading off with the right jab and flicking out the right hook, he was awarded a deserved unanimous decision.

Gym colleague Leroy Nelson was just as impressive against Middlesbrough’s Eric Myers.

The Phil Thomas School of Boxing youngster arrived as an unbeaten national schoolboy champion.

However, Nelson has made vast improvements with his work-rate and defences and he took the fight to Myers, winning every exchange.

The Sunderland youngster looked the better boxer, winning all three rounds.

Mason Stephenson triumphed in a cracking derby against Owen Forbes.

Stephenson forced the pace although Forbes, from Houghton, proved a tidy boxer who fought back well.

However, Stephenson looked like he wanted the win more, and took a unanimous verdict on his SABC debut.

Debutants Charlie Litchfield and Bailey McCabe (Plains Farm) produced a good bout.

Litchfield boxed well against his tall opponent, but McCabe rallied and got the nod on a split decision.

Sunderland ABC also had three youngsters in action in skill contests. Joe Padgett, Evan Archer and Blake Rush gave their all and showed promise for the future.