THE countdown is on for Barrow ABC with less than one month to go until their annual home show.

The Brook Street-based club are set to have 17 of their boxes taking part on the card at Cloud Nine in the town on Saturday, March 16, with male and female boxers from novices in non-scoring skills bouts to established junior and senior competitors.

Among those who will be in action are Novice Championship national finalist James Braithwaite and Tia Davies, and Barrow head coach Jeff Moses has them all matched up and ready to go.

“We’ve got 17 lined up, all the way from the age of 10 with Ryan Jones to super-heavyweight with Big Jim,” said Moses.

“Tia Davies, who is one of our senior women, is boxing as well so it’s all the way through.

“They’re all Barrow boxers. We’re always fit and ready to go so if we get a call at short-notice, we’ll be able to turn out for them and the other clubs return the favour.

“You’ve got look after each other - it’s a bit of a community spirit.”

As usual, all proceeds generated from the auction at the sold-out show will be donated to charities in Furness, with St Mary’s Hospice, Jo’s Appeal, the area’s autism group and one individual to be chosen all benefitting from the club’s support.

Also in attendance on the top table will be professionals and Barrow ABC graduates Mike McGoldrick, Ross Cooksey and Liam Conroy, the latter of whom fights for the British light-heavyweight title one week later.

It is a rare opportunity for the club’s boxers to show off their skills in their hometown too and Moses knows they will benefit from having that extra support.

“It’s our home show and sometimes families can’t travel away because they’ve got other members of the family to look after,” said Moses.

“Whereas if it’s local, they get the opportunity to box in the town, the family can go and there are major sponsors there.”

While many of the boxers at Brook Street are making final preparations for the upcoming show, plenty of others have some other engagements prior to stepping into the ring at Cloud Nine.

Several of those are due to be in action tomorrow night, including Lewis Symon just one week after his last contest, and Moses is in no doubt as to the importance of keeping his charges active.

“Everything is in place,” said Moses, adding: “We’ve got four away this Friday boxing at Preston; Jim Braithwaite, Joshua Jones, Will Hind and Lewis Symon is out again as well.

“The more rounds they get in, the more experience it is and the less nerves, and it all just falls into place with them.”