Elliot Elimasi lost his semi-final against Joe O’Brien via a 4-1 split decision. PHOTO: ENGLAND BOXING

HUNDREDS of boxing fans will be heading to Bloomsbury tomorrow night (Friday) to enjoy a showcase of top amateur action featuring some of the best and brightest the capital has to offer, writes Steve Barnett.

A 500-strong crowd is expected to be cheering under the chandeliers at the Royal National Hotel in Russell Square when Islington Boxing Club (IBC) host their latest dinner show.

Among the emerging names in the sport stepping between the ropes will be Aziz Ben Rouha, fresh from his all-conquering campaign in the England Boxing National Development Championships.

Competing at Under-75kg, Ben Rouha stormed to a 4-0 split decision victory against Impact BA boxer Charlie Spendlove in the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament, which was held at the Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury last month.

All-conquering middleweight Aziz Ben Rouha with IBC coaches Roy Callaghan and Jerry Mitchell. PHOTO: ENGLAND BOXING

The middleweight then faced Altair Gomes from Smokey’s Boxing Club in the final. Opting to box on the front foot in a bid get on the inside of his tall and rangy opponent, Ben Rouha didn’t stop working throughout the three two-minute rounds and, when the final bell sounded, was declared a worthy national champion via unanimous decision.

Plotting Ben Rouha’s progress, IBC committee member and matchmaker Reggie Hagland said: “Aziz was one of the most active boxers throughout the whole championships and now has a target on his head with upcoming and established boxers wanting to box him.

“He is due to box on our dinner show on Friday at the Royal National Hotel which will be his first three three-minute rounds, and then we’re hoping he has a couple more outings before Christmas to prepare for competitions like the London Intermediates and the National Elite Championships next year.”

Amid the glory at the England Boxing National Development Championships there was also disappointment with cruiserweight Elliot Elimasi losing his semi-final contest against Billericay & Wickford ABC’s Joe O’Brien via a 4-1 split decision.

Elimasi, who was boxing at Under-86kg, started off brightly and won the opening round on the judges’ scorecards, but O’Brien came back strongly to level up the bout before rightly earning the decision in the third and final round.