WANG Badman was the star of the show during Pontypool Boxing Club’s nine-fight card at Trevethin and Penygarn Sports and Social Club.

Pontypool club member Badman received the Boxer of the Night trophy after winning his bout against Pontyclun’s Michael Ward via unanimous decision.

Coach Jeff Evans saw his charge make an explosive start to the contest, targeting his taller opponent’s exposed rib cage in the opener and consistently drilling punches into Ward’s torso.

At the start of the second round, Badman switched between head and body and caught Ward with a hefty right cross.

But Ward began to warm to the task and enjoyed success with his jab, although Badman always seemed to have the last word in their exchanges.

The final round saw Badman return his focus to the body and he also showcased a good level of fitness, keeping busy to the end before getting the verdict.

The 86kg fight between Pontypool’s Dean Waters and Trowbridge’s Matthew Lewis was subject to a long delay due to an administrative issue.

The hold-up did no favours for Waters and the Gwent boxer was caught with a clubbing shot during the first exchange that caused him to hit the canvas.

Sensing an early victory, Lewis pinned Waters to the ropes and landed enough punches for the referee to stop the contest.

Earlier in the night, Pontypool’s Aaron Tidbull lost a split decision to Always ABC’s Dylan Blud in the 44kg schoolboy division.

Blud utilised his swarming, heavy hands to good effect, forcing the referee to impose a standing count on Tidbull in the opening round.

Tidbull was able to find his range and work behind a neat jab in the second, enjoying success with a few precise combination counter-punches.

The final session saw Blud incessantly storm towards Tidbull throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the home boxer, as Tidbull countered his opponent with some accurate straight shots.

In a 38kg minor contest, Baglan Bulldogs’ Dylan Edwards was awarded a unanimous decision over Pontypool’s Evan James.

Edwards made the most of his reach advantage and kept busy enough to take the verdict at the end of three competitive rounds.

In the schoolboy 62kg division, Jayden Torrance, also of Pontypool, was matched against Brooklyn Rafferty of Swansea’s Premier Boxing Club.

The two provided the sizable crowd with an action-packed contest, in what was easily the fight of the night.

Rafferty started like a freight train, throwing punches with both hands and forcing Torrance to take a standing eight count.

This seemed to give Torrance the opportunity to regroup and by the end of the round he was finding success with some educated counter-punching.

In the second, Rafferty continued to plough forward, but Torrance showed good skills and timed his shots well.

Despite tiring, the Swansea boxer continued to work at a frenetic pace in the final round, as Torrance looked to counter.

At the end the contest was declared a split-decision victory for the visiting Rafferty, although it could have gone either way.

Meanwhile, Pontypool’s Jimmy Price, Alfie Miller and Alan Jones boxed Trowbridge’s Shay Pinnell, Alway’s Jayden Felton and Trowbridge’s Oliver Carr in skills bouts.

Pontypool duo Tony Janes and stablemate Iwan Evans also faced each other in a skills contest.

Some of the trophies were presented by Pontypool boxer Kieran Gething, who makes his professional debut in Weston-super-Mare this Friday.

For tickets, contact him on his Facebook page or via his Twitter account, or visit Pontypool Boxing Club’s Facebook page.