THE BEST amateur boxing shows have the right a mix of courageous fighters, classy performers and encouraging newcomers.

And Barnstaple ABC got the blend just right on Saturday with 14 entertaining bouts at Roundswell Community Centre.

Fans packed into the new venue and showed their appreciation for a contender who always gives everything.

Nothing less than 100 per cent will do for Tom Allum who puts as much dedication into training as he does in competition.

The Barum boxer was beaten on points by Cirus Charles, of Studio ABC – but not without proving how much he has improved since taking up the sport in 2009.

A succession of swiping haymakers from the Birmingham visitor threatened to knock his block off in the opening round.

But Allum sensibly took evasion action and, maintaining a tight guard, was far more economical with his punches.

Although Charles did enough in the early exchanges, Allum – who completed the Braunton ten-mile race last week – takes pride in his fitness and looked stronger down the finishing stretch.

His performance provided a fitting finale for Barum after Joe Freeman had given them a cracking start.

Having gained his first win against Harrison Sansom in Watchet in November, Freeman beat the same opponent by majority with an accomplished display.

He was a bundle of energy, stepping in with fast flurries then intelligently moving out of danger with tidy foot-work.

Sansom, from the Hamilton Green club in Taunton, looked calm and composed as he launched his own fast raids.

After two close bouts, they will surely look forward to clashing again down the line.

Pat Morton, another Barnstaple youngster having a promising debut season, maintained the hosts' fantastic start.

He felt hard done by with defeat in Plymouth last week and made amends with a mature display against Morgan Hart, of Downend.

There was nothing in it for the first two rounds when Morton had to be on his guard against the visitor's aggressive right-handers.

At the start of the third, though, Hart was wobbled and Morton got through with a some big overhand rights to take the split decision.

Kai Avery showed patience and persistence, too, and victory against Ryan Cozzolino clearly meant so much to the Barum teenager.

Never one to back down, he took a couple of powerful hits and continued to plough forward with typical spirit against the Bristolian.

When the results were read out at the end, Avery, delighted at edging a unanimous win, jumped for joy in the ring.

The biggest disappointment for Barnstaple supporters was the cancellation of Jimmy Randall's bout with Tamuka Muchapondwa.

Randall, the ABA semi-finalist last year, was due to appear in his home town for the first time since April 2010.

But his opponent from Reading ABC opted not to travel after concerns about snow in the South East.

Instead, Randall's Army team-mate Shane Sadler was adopted by the red corner for a superb contest with Wesley Smith, of Launceston.

For boxing aficionados it was the highlight of the night with Smith again showing he belongs in top company after his performance against Tommy Langford at the Durrant House Hotel, Bideford, last year.

The Cornishman was beaten again, this time by majority, but not without giving his followers plenty to cheer against an England international and full-time trainer.

The boys from the Studio club in Birmingham made the journey through snow, rain, sleet and fog to reach North Devon – and Reece Hackett arrived as a one-man hurricane.

Liam Laird, of Barnstaple, was the unfortunate boxer to get in the way of his stormy right hand.

Floored by an explosive shot in the second round, Laird's bout ended early.

Happily, after a check-up with the doctor, he was soon back on his feet.

It is proving to be an excellent season for Harry Sügars and he made sure the Studio club were not going to have things all their own way.

Opponent Jake Birch did his best work on the inside while Sügars kept his composure and picked his punches for the tightest of majority wins.

With one judge favouring each boxer, the third scored it 9-9 but gave the nod to the home boxer for leading off. Sügars extended his winning record to four from four this term.

Jordan Jones and Robbie Squires, on their home debuts, both showed pride to go the distance against tough opponents.

Jones absorbed some fierce body shots in a unanimous defeat to Jack Marks, of Exeter, and Squires did well to stand strong, losing by majority against Noel Gatehouse, of Exmouth.