Mark Moffat has become the first recipient of a new award created by Spennymoor Boxing Academy, writes CRAIG STODDART.

A special title belt is to be presented to the best boxer at each of the club's twice-yearly dinners, and Moffat, 17, became the inaugural holder following his impressive display on the bill at the club's latest dinner, held last Friday at the town's leisure centre.

He was presented with the belt after his win, a unanimous points decision over John Bailey from Workington, Cumbria, impressed the evening's sponsor, Wayne Baister of Berties Quality Clothing.

Moffat, from Bishop Auckland, will keep the belt until the club's next show in November when that evening's best boxer will success him - unless he manages another impressive display.

The evening was another sell-out success for Spennymoor BA, with the ABA officials at ringside impressed as too were the strong support of over 500 fight fans who were pleased to see the host clubs losing just two of the 12 fights.

Spennymoor's healthy squad provided half of the evening's bill, with six senior bouts and one female bout amongst them.

Director of coaching, Robbie Ellis, who donated the boxing belt, was delighted with his squad, especially Moffat. He: said "Young Moffat is a very exciting prospect and it's good to see his talent has been recognised with the best boxer award.

"But I am very proud of the whole squad. They were magnificent, and were a credit to my terrific coaching staff who work hard to produce talent for this club. The boxers were definitely up for it, after months of hard gym work and endeavour, having spent extra sessions in the gym. I must also say well done to the club's matchmaker Paul Hodgson, because we could not have had better matches than were on show."

The club tour Canada next month and dedicated Ellis has even instructed his boxers to follow a strict diet plan ahead of their trip.

With Moffat taking the best boxer accolade, Friday's best bout award went to the George Gallone (Spennymoor) versus Alan McKeevor (Cleckheaton, Sth York).

* Coors Brewery donated the evening's trophies while Berties have also provided clubs hats for the Spennymoor BA squad.

Results: Shane McAloon (Spennymoor BA) beat Danny Rogers (Cleckheaton, S Yorkshire), James Ellis (Spennymoor BA) beat Ross Fenwick (Bilton Hall, Jarrow), Lee Appleyard (Sheffield) beat Billy McAloon (Spennymoor BA), Carl Fawcett (Spennymoor BA) beat Robert McCreesh (Phil Thomas SOB, Middlesbrough), Kyle Ellis (Spennymoor BA) beat S McCarrick (Grainger Park Newcastle), Katie Reid (Spennymoor BA) beat Zoe Rafferty (Trinity, Derbyshire), Mark Golightly (Spennymoor BA) beat Alex Valenchko (Hylton Caslte, Sunderland), George Gallone (Spennymoor BA) beat Alan McKeevor (Cleckheaton, S Yorkshire), John Elliott (South Normanton, Derbyshire) beat Alex Oliver (Spennymoor BA), Joe Cooke (Spennymoor BA) beat Gary Habbin (Sheffield), Christian Schofield (Spennymoor BA) beat Peter Vinton (Leam Lane, Gateshead).