Boxing: Deva Police ABC starlet Joe Lovell called-up to Great Britain trials squad

Dec 24 2009 Chester Chronicle

A SUCCESSFUL Chester boxing club is celebrating yet again after one of their members earned a call-up to the Great Britain trials squad.

Eighteen-year-old Joe Lovell, of Saltney-based Deva Police ABC, is one of 10 Wales-based fighters selected to be put through their paces during an intensive weekend in Sheffield.

Deva coach Mark Shepherd said: “Joe has trained out of his skin and his hard work seems to paying off.

“There are around 40 trialists from all over Great Britain and Joe was one of only two North Wales fighters to be selected.”

The gruelling trials weekend, which will take place in February, will be used to assess the fitness and ability of the boxers, something that coach Shepherd doesn’t believe Connah’s Quay’s Lovell, already a dual Welsh junior champion, will have any problem with.

“He’s in great shape and fighting really well,” said Shepherd.

“He will be fighting in the Club’s for Young People championships in Swansea in January and we’re really confident he can come back with the British title as he only narrowly lost out last year to the Irish champion by one point.”

Lovell’s Deva club-mate Adam Gumati, meanwhile, ended his three-year hiatus from boxing with a resounding win over Joey Jones in Newtown, mid-Wales.

Eighteen-year-old Gumati, of Blacon, overcame his opponent with a convincing points victory to put him in a good position for January, where he will join Lovell at the Clubs for Young People event.

“Adam has come back into the fold and looks in great shape,” said Shepherd.

“He hadn’t boxed competitively since he was 15 but you wouldn’t have known it. He was excellent.”

The Deva club, which is also home to British champion Andy Jones and Welsh champions Ashley Appleby, Aiden Stapleton and Mark Sullivan, has organised a gala show night with guests including Shea Neary, Charlie Payne and Sugar Gibiliru.

The all-ticket bash takes place on Friday, January 29 at 8pm at the Broughton Wings Sports & Social Club, Airbus.

Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased from the Deva ABC gym on Marley Way in Saltney.