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For those new to Dial-a-Cab,
Call Sign has been following the progress of West
Ham Boxing Club’s Sam Bezzina - son of Dial-a-Cab driver
Dean Bezzina (M10) - and his ambition to box for England.
But how it came about is a story of real grit and determination.
Dad Dean takes up the story... "Barnsley’s Metrodrome was the venue for the 2010 Junior ABA finals – the event Sam has been training for all season. With temperatures soaring and 1000 people packed into the arena, this was going to be a tough task for all the competitors – but especially Sam. It was extremely hot, humid and very uncomfortable and these guys were about to give it their all under intense lighting. Sam decided to have a cold shower prior to his bout… Sam, in the class 4 U57kg classification boxed Macaulay McGowan from Jimmy Egan’s BC. It was a lively first round with Sam struggling to find form against his awkward opponent. Sam was losing after the 1st round and had to chase it in rounds 2 and 3. Although Sam finished strongly, it was McGowan who took the title winning 17 - 12. Fortunately for Sam, the tri-nations were to be held in England, which meant England would have two representatives at each weight category, so both Macaulay McGowan and Sam Bezzina were selected to box for England. The Institute of sport in Sheffield is where Sam went to get his first chance to proudly box for his country in an England vest. But disaster struck once more – it was announced that the tri- nations was to be boxed over three days, but on the very same days that Sam had his final GSCE exams! Sam needs the grades for entry to college where he wants to take his A levels. In reality his education has to come first. I spoke to Sam’s sports teacher at school who knows how important Sam’s boxing is to him and he offered to arrange transport after the exams from Sam’s school to the airport, with a plane to Sheffield. Unfortunately Sam would still not make the weigh-in on time, so after much deliberation and a tremendous amount of effort from several of Sam’s teachers, they managed to have all of Sam’s exams rearranged so he could take them in a Sheffield college. Tri Nations |
SAM WINS SILVER FOR ENGLAND! In a race against time with his final GCSE exams… |
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 Sam leads with a big right |
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 On the podium with his silver medal |
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early start with Sam getting up at 5:45am to
weigh-in at 6am. Straight after making the weight, Sam was taken
to college to sit one of his exams. After an hour and a half of
educational pressure, it was time to get back to the Institute
of Sport to focus on whom and at what time he was boxing. The
draw had been made and Sam was up against Welsh champion
Chris Marden. It was now some 14 hours since the weigh-in
and it was fight time. Would he feel tired? Not at all! Sam
dominated his opponent from the first bell and the longer the
fight went on, the more comfortable Sam was looking. Combination
punches, speed and power proved to much for Marden and at the
final bell, Sam had won and booked his place in the Finals with
a convincing 25pts to 6 victory. Day 2 in Sheffield was much of the same. A 5:30 start for the weigh-in, then a cab ride to the exam rooms for his final exam. This was a very big day for Sam; he was looking for the double - an A* for his exam and a gold medal for England. He was up against Mark Mckeown, the Scottish champion who has a very impressive record with many of his wins coming by way of stoppage. Sam and I had watched him box on day 1 and as his record suggested, he was a strong talented lad who would surely be Sam’s toughest test to date. |
Sam’s game plan was to go on the
offensive from the off and give Mckeown a fight he would
remember. The first bell sounded and both lads raced to the
centre of the ring and began unloading with heavy shots, neither
lad wanting to take a backward step. They continued until the
end of the first round with Mckeown taking it by 9pts to 6. Out
for the second and both lads continued at pace, using the whole
ring this time with both boys looking evenly matched. Sam had no
choice but to up the pace, but this left him vulnerable and the
second round ended with Sam trailing by 5 pts at 21 to 16. Out
for the third and final round and with gold slipping away from
Sam, he needed to pull out the performance of his life. For the
next two minutes Sam was chasing the match, giving it his all
and more. The crowd was on its feet cheering a spectacular
display of skill fitness and courage by both lads. Unfortunately for Sam, the final bell sounded with the score 34 pts to 23 in favor of Mckeown. Sam picked up a Silver medal for England and should be very proud of himself, certainly we all are! He boxed superbly and I guess it will give him something to aim for next season, with a possible rematch against Mckeown being one to look forward to. We have to wait for his exam results, but if he put half as much effort into them it will be A* all round." |
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