IT WAS a case of Swede revenge for team England as the home nation chalked up an impressive victory over the visitors at the 2017 Basingstoke Deane Rotary Club International Boxing Tournament.

This annual charity event is in its 17th year and is one of the highlights of the Basingstoke business and sporting events calendar – and this year, it was a winning evening for the host nation as well as local charities.

Held at The Hampshire Court Hotel, in Chineham, more than 300 guests enjoyed an evening of high-quality contests as some of England’s finest young boxers took on their Swedish counterparts.

The last time that Sweden were in town in 2013, the visitors were convincing winners. However, last Friday night, a series of strong performances from the English contingent of boxers ensured that it would be an evening of home rule.

England’s boxers emerged victorious in six of the fights with their Swedish opponents recording just the one victory.

Five of the bouts featured male boxers, while two involved female boxers England’s Mo Harris Akbar turned in the most dominant performance of the evening and this earned him the Best Male Boxer accolade, while Swedish boxer Agnes Alexusson went home with the trophy for Best Female Boxer.

Alan Gibson, President of The Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane, said: “This was another excellent Rotary Boxing evening, and my fellow Rotarians and I are delighted that about £14,000 was raised for local good causes.

“I would particularly like to thank Southern Communications, the Champion Group and Centerprise International, who are the main sponsors of the event. The club is also grateful to the bout sponsors and advertisers, and all of the organisations who sponsored and hosted the tables.”

A grand draw and auction helped to swell the charity coffers, and Alan told the audience that Ark Cancer Centre Charity will be the main recipient of the proceeds from this year’s event.