By Daniel Noble
ENLER ABC’S Zac Foster has been crowned Manchester Box Cup champion for the second time.
Fighting in the 2011 42kg class on Saturday, Zac fought his way to a unanimous decision against a tough opponent, Camlough’s Adam Quinn, boxing at mid to short range and forcing a standing count in the third round.
The 15-year-old now adds another Box Cup to his growing list of accolades, which also includes multiple Armagh/Down, Mid Ulster and Ulster 9 Counties titles.
He simply overpowered his opponent en route to this latest victory, and on the basis of head coach Jonny Hunter’s assessment, there was only ever one winner.
“Zac was struggling with hayfever and couldn’t breathe properly, but he didn’t let that stop him,” he said.
“He was just far too intense for the other lad and could have stopped him a few times, even scoring a standing count with a body shot, which is virtually unheard of at this level.”
It may not be the first time that Zac has got his hands on the cup in Manchester, but it does mark a significant moment for the club he joined 10 months ago.
“I’m extremely proud of Zac,” Hunter added. “It’s the second time he’s won the Box Cup, but it’s the first he has won for Enler ABC.”
“It’s actually the first Box Cup the club has won altogether, and we haven’t even been open for two years, so it’s massive for us as well as Zac.”
The Newtownards fighter travelled to compete in the competition with his clubmate, 14-year-old Comber native Bobby Boardman.
Bobby did not get the desired result on his Box Cup debut, losing out to opponent Ameen El Azeem in the 2012 42kg final, however, his coaches felt he should have been declared the
winner.
“For it being his Box Cup debut, Bobby boxed brilliantly. Watching it back, we feel he should have won, but it was a great experience for him,” Hunter explained.
“He boxed well and that first experience should serve him well for the next one.”
Looking ahead, the two Enler prospects will compete in Dublin’s Monkstown Box Cup next Thursday, before Zac stakes his claim for a place on Ireland’s European team at the Irish Cadets Qualifier in the last week of July
