Ben overcomes nerves to win fight (From Penarth Times)

Ben overcomes nerves to win fight

ELEVEN-year old Ben Harding is through to the Welsh Amateur Boxing finals after a brilliant performance in the semis, stopping N Williams of Splott ABC in the second round.

This is Ben's first Welsh championship and he was suffering with nerves, thinking he wasn't fit enough, strong enough or good enough. But coach Neil Munn always knew he was.

Ben was told to go out in the first round and keep the fight at long range, which he did brilliantly, with strong left jabs and powerful right crosses. In the second round, Ben was told to keep it long and then switch the right cross to a right hook to the body. This was something Ben had been training for in the gym and it worked well.

With Williams blowing like a steam engine because of the body shots, Ben went to work and on the second standing count the referee had to stop the fight, with Williams taking too many punches.

This was an excellent performance from Ben, whose brother Keiron is Welsh and British champion.