Call Sign March 2009 - Page 19 - Dean’s son after place in England boxing team

Dial-a-Cab driver Dean Bezzina (M10), is justifiably proud of his son Sam’s boxing achievements. He is currently training and boxing for Newham Amateur Boxing Club and at the time of writing, had remained unbeaten since transferring from the Repton Club at the beginning of the season. Sam Bezzina started boxing around 3 years ago in the Essex village of Ongar, his flare and determination for the sport being obvious as he reached the schoolboy National Finals in his first season, having had just seven bouts under his belt. Unfortunately Ongar A.B.C. was struggling for funding and although 150 youngsters trained there 4 times a week, Ongar had to close its doors for the final time. It was then Sam made the move to Repton, one of the big London clubs. Sam had a good first season there and represented the club in Europe twice, producing some great boxing at the HSK cup in Denmark at u42kgs and was awarded silver for his efforts. Boxing again at u45kgs, he was awarded another silver in Finland in the Box Cup after a very hard and close fought contest with twice Scottish champion Robbie McKee.	Dean’s son after place in England boxing team
	*Sam’s hand is raised in victory after a recent bout*
	After a season at Repton, the travelling from Essex to London 3 times a week and the late nights began to take their toll and forced yet another move - this time to Newham A.B.C. where Sam remains unbeaten. He is currently contesting the u48kgs class 3 and was in action recently when he forced a first round stoppage against Jack Shannon from Danson Youth, to win the London finals. Just one week later, he went on to have 3 x 2 minute rounds with Slough’s Johnny Scott to secure a convincing unanimous decision and to move on to the national schoolboy semi-finals at Guildford. A win here would see him through to the final, which will be held on 8 March at the Gorsebrook Leisure Centre. If	Sam takes that title, it could secure him a place in the England team. Call Sign will tell you next month whether Sam reached the final and how he got on. Our fingers are crossed! Sam’s dad, Dean, told Call Sign: "We are all very proud of Sam and what he has achieved. We’d would like to thank all of our family and friends who have supported him throughout and of course also thank all of his trainers from the early days at Ongar, his season at Repton and all of his current trainers at Newham. These guys are the unsung heroes who give up so much time with such dedication and commitment. A big thanks to all of them."

DaC driver should have hoofed it…

After meeting Pegasus the flying horse!

While Keith Robinson (C76) was PoB from Victoria Station to Abbey Road, the last thing he imagined would cross his path en route to NW8 was Pegasus, the flying horse of Greek mythology that was said to carry Zeus' thunderbolts through the sky!
   As Keith entered Hyde Park Corner from Grosvenor Place and gently moved with the usual heavy traffic flow, a riderless horse came racing through the gates of Apsley House from the direction of Hyde Park, galloping across the busy carriageways of this central London thoroughfare towards Constitution Hill and Buckingham Palace! The panicking animal - probably weighing around one ton - tried to jump over Keith’s cab apparently believing it to be a hurdle, but belly-flopped onto the taxi’s bonnet instead. It demolished the bonnet - and front wings too - as it collided with the vehicle.
   The frightened animal rolled over into the roadway in front of Keith’s former pride and joy and then, while trying to regain an upright position, crashed into a private car that was passing on Keith’s nearside.
   "To say that lady driver was surprised, would be an understatement," Keith told Call Sign. "The horse then lay in the road for a few seconds, not surprisingly stunned by the dual impact before regaining its equilibrium and galloping off towards the Queen’s house," said Keith.

Did Keith really see Pegasus the flying horse!

   A female pedestrian that the horse narrowly missed as it ran across the Knightsbridge pavement, called for police and ambulance on her mobile phone. When the ambulance crew arrived, they quickly checked that Keith was ok before rushing off into the park to look for the rider of the errant horse, assuming him to be injured when the animal ‘bucked’ him off!
   "I checked with the Blues and Royals Household Cavalry a week or two later and was told all was OK," said Keith
   Keith finished by telling Call Sign: "When I told my cab insurance company what had happened, they initially laughed in disbelief, but I had the cab repaired and claimed my excess back from the Household Cavalry without a problem, so it all worked out well in the end. But at no time did I see the horse fly or I would have hoofed it pretty quickly," he said, finishing with a smile…

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