HALSTEAD Boxing Club's elite middleweight senior Jason Bradley faced a very strong and skilful boxer in Jake Gibson from the CSM ABC on Eastgate's dinner show in Bury St Edmunds.

From the first round, both men were trading hurtful jabs and heavy shots with both coming forward and not wanting to give an inch.

However, Gibson was the better at bopping and weaving and gave Bradley a hard time towards the end of the round as he outscored Bradley with fast combinations to head and body.

In the second and third rounds, Bradley knew he had to play catch up and he commanded the centre of the ring, showing rapid hand speed and devastating power and showing he had the better engine as the bout went on.

Gibson had his moments but Bradley's punch output was too vast and after a tough explosive fight - in what turned out to be the best bout of the night - Bradley was left frustrated after the split decision went against him.

The Halstead camp were disappointed with the result and head coach George Cook branded it "diabolical".

On the same bill, Halstead junior Louie Palmer was up against Teddy Carroll of Dagenham ABC.

From the bell, Palmer realised he had to box on the front foot and dictate the bout from the centre of the ring.

Carroll started well but was soon backed up on the ropes by the more aggressive and slightly better work rate of the Halstead youngster.

Rounds two and three were much the same, with Palmer pursuing his opponent to every corner of the ring, landing impressive combinations and firing off plenty of heavy jabs to the body.

He showed power and displayed good skills and technique to claim victory by a unanimous points win.

Meanwhile, Halstead junior Matthew Swanson went down to a split points decision against Charlie Collings at the Progress Boxing Club's open show at Hope Church in Diss.

Swanson posted a strong first round as he focused on his excellent hand speed and eye-catching single punches and battled bravery against a fine technician.

In the second round, Colling's stepped up the pace, outworking Swanson in close quarters trying to slow him down which it did for a spell.

But towards the end of the round, Swanson displayed some impressive front foot boxing and extra confidence to take the round.

The third round started explosively with both boxers trading heavy blows and producing a brilliant display of aggressive boxing at its best.

Elsewhere, the club congratulated Vicki, Jackie, Rosie and Natalie from the ladies' boxing team for completing the Halstead Marathon.