BASINGSTOKE Boxing Club enjoyed a winning double at the annual Haringey Boxcup tournament thanks to Hannah Latonero and Will Nimako.

The event, held at London’s Alexandra Palace over three days, is possibly the biggest tournament in the world, with over 400 boxers travelling from all over Europe and beyond to take part.

The first day of competition on the Friday was the quarter-finals and Nimako started his quest for gold in the 64kg category for boxers who had fought less than 10 bouts.

He certainly wasted no time in his opening fight, as he faced Kofi Donkor of the Double Jab Boxing Club and twice knocked him down for a technical knock-out.

The following day, Nimako beat Heart of Portsmouth’s Ryan Cayford, as, after two counts in the second round, Cayford’s corner threw in the towel.

This set up a final encounter with Alexander Swarvasson of Team Iceland, a tall southpaw who had travelled a long way and won his way through from the quarter-finals.

The final showdown went the distance and Nimako came off better in the exchanges, which showed as the judges awarded him a unanimous decision.

Earlier the same day, Latonero faced this year’s female ABA champion, Sophie Stewart of Right Stuff Boxing Club.

The Basingstoke fighter was relentless, with non-stop punching and good defence, as she won on all the judges’ cards for a unanimous decision.

In her semi-final, Latonero got off to a flying start with a very hard-fought unanimous decision over St Albans’ Rebecca Stone at 48kgs.

This was the fourth time these girls had boxed and Stone had won all the previous meetings.

There were three other Basingstoke boxers at the event.

Bryce Logan lost his elite light/heavyweight semi-final, coming out on the wrong end of a close decision to eventual title winner, Dale Youth’s Matthew Tinker.

Jacob Gabriel, boxing in the elite 64kg class, took on triple gold medal winner Sam Bowen, a veteran of over 100 fights.

The higher work rate of Bowen won the bout over the more eye-catching boxing of Gabriel.

Elliott Holt had a very close bout in his middleweight quarter-final with Egidijus Zukus of Broad Street Boxing Club. A split decision went against Elliott.

All five boxers train daily at the Essex Road gym, and did the club proud.

The boxers will continue to train throughout the summer.

The club is open four nights a week from 7pm to 9pm Monday to Thursday and welcomes everyone over the age of 10.