Army vs Navy proves a knockout display at HMS Sultan

A spectacular display of amateur boxing was enjoyed by all, as the Royal Navy recently went toe-to-toe with the Army, at the HMS Sultan Boxing Dinner Show.

A combined Royal Navy team, from His Majesty’s Ships Sultan, Collingwood, Nelson, and Dauntless, took on personnel from the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), MOD Lyneham and guest fighters from Brighton ABC.
 
The competition was played out in a highly electric atmosphere, with the Show including a display by a Corps of Drums from the Gosport Division Royal Marine Volunteer Cadet Corps and a parade of the fighters.
 
The Boxing Dinner provides the perfect platform for novice boxers to take those first steps into a competitive boxing ring. In total, twelve action packed bouts were on the card with two all-female fights, in addition to the eight Army vs Navy bouts, all consisting of three, three-minute rounds.
 
 
Fight of the night was the heavyweight bout between AB Fraser Scott (HMS Sultan) and Trooper Alfie Rolandsen (King's Royal Hussars), with the soldier claiming the victory in front of the excited crowd.
 
Presentations were made to winning fighters by VIPs including the Commanding Officer, HMS Sultan, Captain Jo Deakin OBE, Commanding Officer, HMS Collingwood, Captain Tim Davey and by local dignitaries and Defence industry representatives, including the Mayors of Gosport and Fareham, councillors Martin Pepper and Fred Birkett.

As the evening drew to a close, the Commanding Officer of HMS Sultan, Captain Jo Deakin OBE presented the winning team from REME with the trophy.

The event director, Leading Physical Training Instructor Caddy said: “The HMS Sultan Boxing Dinner Show is always a fantastic advert for both Royal Navy boxing and this year certainly didn’t disappoint.
 
For several of our fighters, it was the first time they’d appeared the ring competitively, but it was great to see the way they stepped up to the challenge, especially the girls out there who really went for it. Hopefully this will be the platform for many of them to pursue the sport further, with the long-term goal of representing the full Royal Navy Boxing Squad.”
 
Bout results (winners in BOLD)
 
62Kg AB Henry Goodall (SUL) VS AB Charlie Webb (CWD)
 
70Kg Female bout – AB Niahm Tur (NELSON) VS Lauren Brown (Brighton ABC)
 
75KG Prince Charlton (Brighton ABC) VS Cfn Adam Robb (REME)
 
71Kg AB Shaun Kennedy (SUL) VS LH Bradley Rushton (DAUNTLESS)
 
86Kg Spr Bailey Bates (Royal Engineers Boxing) VS LCpl Brandon Hall (REME)
 
58Kg Female bout – Louise Downing (CWD) VS Cfn Emma Hutton (REME)
 
60Kg AB Alex Burbury (NELSON) VS Cpl Craig Wolfendale (REME)
 
63.5Kg AB Pete Jarvie (NELSON) VS Cfn Luke Griffiths (REME)
 
73Kg AB Cameron Geraldas (NELSON) VS Cfn Ronnie Leonard (REME)
 
73Kg Mne Dan Humphries (CWD) VS Spr Alex Smith (ROYAL ENG)
 
86Kg LH Adam Crane (CWD) VS Spr Henry Taylor (ROYAL ENG)
 
90kg AB Fraser Scott (SUL) VS Tpr Alfie Rolandsen (KRH)