Results, reaction and pictures from last night's CRN Fight Night
Some 18 brave boxers woke up bruised and battered this morning after taking part in the eleventh CRN Fight Night last night, all in the name of charity.
Several were in work today, including Dexter ‘Bad Newz' Babalola from Mimecast, who edged a close cruiserweight contest with Comms-care's Benjamin ‘Razor' Reddock.
Although nursing a swollen nose, Babalola told us this morning that it was a "great experience".
"It was a really good night and well organised, and all the fighters were really nice guys outside of the ring. My fight was matched up really well - the guy I fought was really fast," he said.
Meanwhile, Helen ‘The Honey' Badger, from Harman Professional Services (pictured), was also in the office today after being paired in a super-middleweight bout with Incisive Media's very own Victoria ‘The Vicious' Newell.
"I had a brilliant night and when I walked into the office this morning - probably still slightly hung over - everyone was just buzzing," she said. "I loved the training and the camaraderie with the guys that did the training."
Badger said she plans to box again.
"My coach said ‘you've got two weeks off, and then we're back on it'. It's just the fitness and the way you're using your mind on top of the physical side of it - you don't get that in many other sports.
"A couple of the girls I sparred with in the last couple of weeks leading up to the fight were like ‘see you in a couple of weeks' - I want to get back in there."
Babalola (pictured) admitted he is still weighing up whether to continue with the sport after taking a big blow from his opponent last night.
"It was my first time boxing and I'm still thinking about it," he said. "I did enjoy it but I didn't enjoy getting punched in the face. He caught me once and caught it really clean - all the rest I pushed him and blocked him. It's hard to keep your composure when someone hits you."
Having won the coveted Fighter of the Night award, David 'The Danger' Woodward from HPE Aruba was also up and about the next day.
He defeated Omari 'Iron Fist' Hunter from Agilitas in an enthralling middleweight contest.
"There's no doubt about it: Omari is a really tough dude and he hit extremely hard," Woodward told CRN. "It all came together on the night. Where he landed some big shots, I had the high volume of shots."
Woodward, who was in the gym five or six days each week during the six-week training period, said he also planned to add boxing longer term into his fitness regime.
Dinner, served after bout three, comprised a starter of chicken caesar croquettes, lettuce, samphire and smoked anchovy puree, a main of pork belly, black pudding, celeriac remoulade, spinach, caramelised shallot, baby carrot, potato galette and rhubarb gel, and a desert of chocolate mousse, salted caramel, pink shortbread, summer fruits and strawberry ice cream.
The revelry continued long into the night, with many attendees heading onto the after-party at Beduin Bar.
See below for a full summary of last night's results, with some accompanying pictures. You can view a full gallery of the pictures on our Facebook page.
1
David ‘The Slayer' Skinner (Total Computer Networks) v Tim 'T-Pain' Roberts (Northamber)
Skinner had a strong first round but both fighters appeared tired in the third. The final result was very close at 29-28.
WINNER: Skinner
2
Ryan ‘The Bomber' Hall (Bytes) v Jake ‘Cuddles' Anthony (LogPoint)
A heavyweight bout. There were several stoppages throughout the fight due to problems with gumshields falling out (both fighters) and helmets coming loose (Anthony, twice).
WINNER: ANTHONY
3
Victoria ‘The Vicious' Newell (Incisive Media) v Helen ‘The Honey' Badger (Harman Professional Solutions)
A super-middleweight bout. The audience vote saw the fighters neck and neck after round two and the judges obviously agreed.
RESULT: DRAW
4
Josh ‘The Jester' Hughes (SoftwareONE) v Graham ‘One Bomb' Findlay (SHI International)
A cruiserweight bout. Findlay injured his knee in round one and the fight was stopped.
WINNER: HUGHES
5
David ‘The Count of Monte Fisto' Polier (intY) v James ‘King' Macbeth (Westcoast)
A cruiserweight bout. The audience vote was 83% in favour of Macbeth after round two, in a fight the MC described as "a rough-tough encounter".
WINNER: MACBETH
6
Sam ‘The Gent" Kelly (last-minute replacement for Ali ‘The Hurricane' Hussain) v Lewis ‘Birthday Boy' Troughton (Computacenter)
A welterweight bout that saw equipment problems for both fighters with them needing to have their helmets adjusted. The MC called the fight "a squeaker" and said the result was due to Troughton having "slightly tighter combinations". Many in the crowd appeared to disagree.
WINNER: TROUGHTON
7
David ‘The Danger' Woodward (HPE Aruba) v Omari ‘Iron Fist' Hunter (Agilitas)
A middleweight bout. Most of the crowd were cheering for Woodward and the audience vote after round three was 90%-10% in his favour. The MC declared it "one of the best fights we've ever seen at Fight Night" and said the result was a "wafer-thin decision".
WINNER: WOODWARD
8
Lloyd ‘The Powerpod' Parker (Softcat) v Sam ‘The Hammer' Baldock (Datto)
A heavyweight bout with more helmet problems. The audience vote was firmly with Baldock throughout the fight, echoing the judges' decision.
WINNER: BALDOCK
9
Benjamin ‘Razor' Reddock (Comms-care) v Dexter ‘Bad Newz' Babalola (Mimecast)
A cruiserweight bout. Babalola had a lot of crowd support and the result represents the first time Comms-care has lost in the history of Fight Night.
WINNER: BABALOLA
The Fighter of the Night award was presented by professional boxer and former British light heavyweight champion Frank Buglioni.
WINNER: DAVID WOODWARD
