MOUNT Gambier boxers Liam English and Vahahn Schofield both returned from Adelaide on the weekend with wins under their belts.
English successfully defended his South Australian amateur welterweight state title, after a tough three rounds saw him re-crowned on decision.
The win keeps his undefeated record in tact after four fights, while Schofield represented South Australia in the SA v QLD tournament, with both results pleasing for coach Barry Nilsson.
English believed he could have performed better on the weekend, but was happy to raise his glove at the end of the bout.
“It was good to get another win,” English said.
“He was a tough opponent, but I knew I could win if I boxed him.
“It was closer than my other fights, but it was still a win so it was good.”
Up against a shorter and stockier fighter, English approached the bout with caution and did not want to be caught inside where his opponent could do damage.
“Stumpy (Nilsson) and I were talking before the fight and just said to ‘keep him at range’ and keep jabbing away, which I did,” he said.
“Funny enough when we got in close I was doing more work than he was, which was unusual.”
His opponent had a good right hand and in the third and final round landed a punch which broke English’s nose.
However, English said it would take more than that to throw him off while in the ring.
“You would have to kill me in there to beat me down,” he said.
“I’m never going to take a knee or anything like that – nothing really bothers me that much.”
If anything it encouraged him to fight back harder and after the round’s end English was judged the victor and defended his title.
When asked if he expected the result, English said confidence is key when it comes to boxing.
“We are always pretty confident going into fights,” he said.
“I never picture myself losing.
“It is a mental game with boxing, you always have to think you are going to win and have to go in there to win by a lot, otherwise you set yourself up to fail.”
Schofield’s fight also went down to a points decision and although he claimed the victory, said he could have put in a better performance.
“I could have done a lot better,” he said.
“I felt like I not only let myself down a little bit, but I also let the state down a little bit because I knew I could do better.”
Heading into the fight Schofield knew it was going to be tough, but used his weight advantage to wear down his opponent.
“I do not think I was mentally ready to take on a Queenslander, but I got the win so I cannot complain,” he said.
“The first round I probably hurt him a fair bit with hooks and big power punches.
“I was a good two or three kilograms heavier than him.
“Then the second round I was a bit puffed and so was he – he was gassed.”
Schofield stuck it out and came away with the win in a split decision after his three 90-second rounds.
Nilsson said it was a “close fight”, but believed on his best day Schofield could have ended it early.
However, he was proud of both his fighters on the weekend and now looks ahead to preparation for later in the year.
“I am resting my main boys for a couple of months now,” Nilsson said.
“There will be no competition until the back end of the year where it is going to be busy.
“We have the states coming up in September and then we have my show in December.
“We will probably have another show in between those, so it is going to be pretty hectic.”
