Bethany Connellan beats Kate Jackson

Bethany Connellan with Steven Connellan (left) and Hamer coach Alan Bacon (right)

Bethany Connellan, 17, of Hamer Amateur Boxing Club, beat Kate Jackson, of Wigton ABC, in a return contest on Friday 15 January at the Cumbria Grand in Grange Over Sands.

Unlike the aggressive approach she took first time they met, Jackson came out for the first bell boxing on the back foot, behind a tight guard while using clever footwork to stay out of range.

Connellan took the centre of the ring and pressed her opponent onto the ropes and around the ring with solid one-twos.

The round was going in Connellan's favour and she made certain in final ten seconds when she stepped up the action and and connected with a solid left hand punch on the sound of the bell.

At the start to the second round Connellan came out all guns blazing, looking to take the contest away from the Wigton girl but to Jackson's credit she replied with shots of her own which made for a terrific set-two which delighted the crowd.

Connellan continued to press and she constantly forced Jackson onto the ropes and on two occasions towards the end of the round it looked as though Jackson was wilting but she managed to see out the round.

Jackson came out for the third and last round determined to get back into the contest and she took the fight to Connellan with quick one-twos followed by a heavy left hook that caught Connellan on three occasions.

Jackson continued her fight to get back into the contest but she was tiring fast and Connellan started to unload heavy punches to both the body and the head as she chased Jackson around the ring to see out the round and see her hand raised in victory.

Connellan's victory came just a week after she lost, by majority decision, to Scottish National champion Charlie Wilson, from Forgewood ABC, Motherwell in a contest that had the crowd stood on its feet clapping and cheering.