Mark battles to ABA final

Nov 17 2006 By John Gibson, The Evening Chronicle

Newcastle's Mark Clauzel has stormed to the finals of the ABA championships with a terrific double victory in Liverpool.

It's a massive triumph not only for the fighter but his newly- formed club Northumbria ABC in the Newbiggin Hall area of the city.

Having battled his way to a points victory in the quarter-finals 24 hours earlier, Clauzel stopped the Combined Services champion David Robinson in the fourth round last night.

"It was a magnificent performance," said Glenn McCrory, who opened the club amid blazing headlines when he imported two top Cuban coaches.

"Mark was excellent. He was calm and did everything right against a decent opponent.

"After two rounds it looked like a tough contest but Clauzel stepped up a gear, dropped the lad from the Navy in the fourth, and it was all over."

Clauzel must now face Joe Selkirk from Liverpool's Rotunda club in the final at Bethnal Green on December 1. "It'll be hard but you expect that in an ABA final," added McCrory.

"Three months ago were we in Cuba trying to sign coaches when we didn't have a gym. Now we have one of our fighters in a prestigious national final."

South Durham's Bradley Saunders also made it to the finals, beating M Stead (Services) 18-3 on points.