British Boxing Board Of Control 2009 Annual Awards Dinner
© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Saturday night, at the Eaton Hotel in Edgbaston, England, the Midlands Area Council for the British Boxing Board of Control hosted their Annual Boxing Awards Dinner.
The event has been running for 20 years but the Midlands are still the only region to host such an occasion.
Guests stood for the traditional ten-bell tribute in honour of three losses to the boxing community: Willie Wilson (Nottingham), Chris Elliott (Leicester) and the ’Voice’ of boxing – Reg Gutteridge.
This was followed by a lovely three course meal.
I shared a table with Bob Plant and female boxer Lyndsey Scragg of the Wednesbury Boxing Academy, her family and PC Andrew Whitehall and his wife. I think I was on the best table because I laughed quite a lot!
Once the meal was over, there was an auction of boxing memorabilia before it was time for the presentation of awards.
Led by Dave Roden (Midlands Area Chairman and Director of the BBBofC) and Les Potts (Area Secretary) – Awards were as follows:
Best New Boxer: Nominations – Frankie Gavin, Jamie Ball and Scott Evans.
Winner: Frankie Gavin
Best Supporting Boxer: Nominations – Jason Nesbitt, Sid Razak and Delroy Spencer.
Winner: Sid Razak
Boxer from the Past: Tony Wilson, former British Light Heavyweight Champion.
Best Fight: Nominations – Steve Saville vs. Baz Carey, Chris Edwards vs. Osman Ahmed, Gavin Deacon vs. Amir Unsworth.
Winner: Saville vs. Carey
Best Boxer: Nominations – Don Broadhurst, Carl Froch and Mathew Macklin.
Winner: Carl Froch
Carl was presented with a beautiful cut glass gift (like a brandy glass) which had a ‘cobra snake’ figurine inside. His girlfriend was presented with a bouquet of flowers.
Other ‘Special Awards’ went to Lyndsey Scragg, Al Malcolm, PC Andrew Whitehall and Les Potts.
Scragg was recognised for her contributions and success in women’s boxing. Recently winning the Global Boxing Council Female Super Featherweight title, Scragg’s next contest is against Angel McKenzie at the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton on September 18.
PC Andrew Whitehall was recognised for his contributions to the community. He’s worked tirelessly to set up boxing and other clubs as well as organising community help schemes to keep young people off the streets. Andrew said the youngsters are only allowed to join the clubs providing they sign their agreement in keeping out of trouble.
Al Malcolm was recognised for his support of young people in boxing. The former super heavyweight boxer from Birmingham faced debutant Lennox Lewis in 1989.
Carl Gunns from Birstall, Leicestershire, won the ‘Services to Boxing Award’.
Doctor Michael Abdou was given credit by Dave Roden for his work as a Board Doctor (approximately twenty years ago).
Dave Poston received an award to recognise the professionalism and commitment that he had shown to the sport of boxing over a period of 64 years.
Once presentations were over, a singing duo provided the entertainment and very good they were too!
All in all – it was a great night out!