THE FANS certainly get behind their local favourites at Combe Martin Amateur Boxing Club.

Giving young boxers their first chance to impress in the ring is one of the club's main aims.

And on their final show of the season Gary Seldon became the latest newcomer to have the home crowd chanting his name.

Seldon turned his fight with Dorchester's Robert O'Sullivan on its head to claim a dramatic debut victory.

Two muscular opponents went at each other from the opening bell in the red-hot atmosphere of the village hall.

A flurry of shots from the visitor rocked Seldon in the opening round before he composed himself to land a couple sharp lefts and bloody his rival's nose.

Again O'Sullivan started the second round like a man in a hurry but Seldon survived the onslaught to end the contest in no-nonsense style.

Backed into the blue corner, the visitor had his legs buckled by some brutal shots and the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

Seldon was buzzing after being named Combe Martin's best senior boxer of the night, and the same could be said for Billy 'The Kid' Stanbury who took the junior honours.

He won a cracking contest against Torbay's Zane Turner by third-round stoppage with some wincing body shots.

Both lads gave everything, piling forward with shots to the body in the early stages before Stanbury's fitness came through.

Countless hours in the gym, sparring with club-mate Callum Dovell have clearly paid off.

For fellow 14-year-old Dovell there were celebrations too, after a unanimous win against Torbay's Joe Preece.

Back in September, he lost on points against the same opponent, and was determined to set the record straight this time.

Hard-fought, the bout swung Dovell's way after a strong final round.

First Preece suffered a points deduction from the referee, then the home favourite stepped in to rock his rival with a couple sturdy rights.

Jack Taylor produced one of his most accomplished displays so far to see off Mayflower's Ben Ruth.

Focussed and disciplined, Taylor landed forceful single shots off both sides for a comfortable points victory.

Joe Mallinder had to go through the pain barrier though, for his gutsy win against Max Earle, after injuring his right arm in the warm-up.

Through gritted teeth Mallinder found the target with left jabs from range. He had the best of the opening round before taking the win against the Mayflower boxer by majority.

That was the last of five wins for the host club as they rounded off the season in style.

Not that the Combe Martin boys had things all heir own way.

There was disappointment at the top of the bill for Tommy Herd who was out-pointed by Bristol visitor Daniel Sarkozi.

Herd made a promising start against the Empire boxer, ending the opening round with a sweet left hand, plum on his rival's jaw.

But after a tight second round, things got scrappy in the third and come the end, Sarkozi did enough to impress the judges.

For any boxer, gaining a win away from home is always impressive.

To celebrate a victory at another North Devon club made it a great night for three visitors from Bideford ABC.

On the first senior bout of the evening, Bideford's Chade Coysh came through a tremendous tussle with Combe Martin's Joe Hancock.

After two rounds though, it was the home boxer making the smart moves, impressing with his sharp footwork, and picking his shots intelligently.

Yet Coyshe found some extra energy and the swiping right hooks that were missing in the opening rounds suddenly began to connect.

Caught by a powerful hook, Hancock required a standing count and Coyshe finally got the decision after upping the intensity in the third.

It was a long trip back to Southampton for Josh Andrews of Golden Ring ABC after he lost unanimously to Bideford's Josh Mason.

Strong work ethic was the key for Mason who landed some quickfire combinations in the last 10 seconds of the second round to seize the initiative.

Energy and forceful one-twos gave Mason a winning score of 13-10, 12-9, 9-8 against a game opponent.

It is always tight and tense too, when Bradley Richards and Kyle England go head to head.

England won their previous contest at the Durrant House Hotel by majority and this time the Bideford boxer gained a unanimous verdict in a frantic contest.

Slightly shorter, he got through on the inside to gain the edge in the second round and boxed at range to land the cleaner punches in the third.

The evening started with another impressive skills display, from Timmy Pike in a kid gloves bout against Exmouth's Ben Veale.

● Boxing results: page 107.