THE latest batch of promising Barrow ABC boxers have been benefiting from some useful time in the ring.

Teenage trio Mason Cook, Rory Grant, and Oliver Dilks, all 14, and 11-year-old Ryan Jones took part in skills bouts at Ambleside and Windermere BC last weekend - and the Brook Street gym's head coach Jeff Moses was delighted with their performances.

Youngster Jones is not new to getting between the ropes and he looked good in the three one-minute rounds of action against Workington’s G Govans.

“Ryan has been in a couple of times and he performed brilliantly. He did the business,” said Moses.

Cook was making his first appearance, and he got on top in a lively tussle against F Lowden of Workington.

“Mason had to hold back,” said Moses. “It was a case of showing respect for the other boxer and it was a good lesson for Mason on how to show control.”

Grant was also fighting for the first time and he was up against a more experienced opponent in Workington’s B Wedgwood, but Moses was pleased with how he handled himself in the ring.

“Rory got caught a few times, but he weathered the storm and he did well. Any doubts we had were put to bed,” he said.

Dilks was also on debut against Fleetwood’s R Sherman and he also impressed Moses, who said: “Skills bouts are all about getting to know what it is about, and Oliver did well. They all performed well and are good to go. We now know we’ve got three new lads for this season.”

From the new to the old, and Barrow ABC’s experienced heavyweight Jim Braithwaite was also in action at the weekend, losing to Halliwell ABC’s Saquib Farid in Preston.

Braithwaite was a bit rusty having not laced up his gloves for a while, and despite a spirited comeback in the final stages of the three-round contest, he lost on points.

A rematch has been agreed so the popular Swarthmoor slugger will get his chance of revenge later this month.