Boxing: Edmonds' strategy stuns Broadhurst

On thursday Don Broadhurst knocked out his Scottish opponent with a sickening left hook and he has done the same thing several times this season. But in last night's final of the Four Nations here he was given a boxing lesson by the Welshman Matthew Edmonds.

Last month Broadhurst won the English flyweight title and few expected Edmonds to bother him in the final. But from the opening bell it was obvious that Tony Borg, the Welshman's trainer, had formulated a strategy and it worked.

From the opening bell until the final bell Edmonds seldom allowed either of his hands to drop away from his chin, and each time Broadhurst lunged forward and missed he was hit with crisp counters that increased in intensity as the rounds passed.

Both boxers are just 19 and it is clear that they will meet again and it will be interesting on that occasion to see if Broadhurst can adjust his tactics, because in last night's final he was given an old-fashioned boxing lesson and it was classy to watch.

"I knew I had to stay clear of his left hook and at the same time keep pushing him back and that is exactly what I did,'' said Edmonds.

In the light-flyweight final England's Craig Lyon emerged after four fiercely paced rounds with a score of 27-21 in his favour against Scotland's Ian McCabe. Lyon is a deceptive puncher and an equally impressive boxer and he was too good for McCabe.