 Chris Webb won the decisive fifth bout for Cambridge |
Oxford University were whitewashed by Cambridge in the 102nd varsity boxing match in London. The light blues completed their 9-0 victory by knocking-out Oxford's giant heavyweight Peter Anderson with the final punch of the night. Cambridge have now ended Oxford's three-year winning streak and lead by 50 matches to 48 in the competition which dates back to 1897. The event was held, for the first time, at London's Old Billingsgate market. An estimated 1,500 people created an intense atmosphere as Cambridge medical student Irfan Ahmed recovered from a poor first round to beat 23-year-old Adam Blick on points in the opening bout. Welshman Ieuan Marsh fired Cambridge into a 2-0 lead with a barrage of right handers which destroyed Oxford's lightweight Tom Nickalls. Cambridge captain Will Rees then outclassed Chris Pearson in the Light-welterweight division to open-up a 3-0 lead. Oxford welterweight Vinnie Vitale looked incredulous as the referee stopped his fight in the second round. The New Jersey philosophy student had hardly broken sweat when the fight was ended but in return had barely laid a glove on opponent Rob Chapman.  | The guys really pulled it out of the bag for me because they know how much this meant to me Cambridge coach Vincent O'Shea |
The decisive fifth match was won for Cambridge by light-middleweight Chris Webb on his 21st birthday. The performance from Oxford's Cliff Mark represented the closest Oxford had come to victory so far, but the Canadian lost by a unanimous decision to the former Great Britain kickboxer from High Wycombe. Another birthday boy, Ed Chadwick, stopped Oxford's Richard Pickering in the first round of their middleweight bout after a blistering opening 30 seconds. Oxford's 'brawler from the Bronx', Adam Levine, was determined to get the dark blues off the mark and made a stunning start to the second of the night's middleweight contests.
 Cambridge were elated after their comprehensive victory |
But the American was lucky to survive the first round after catching a fearsome left hook from his more experienced opponent Jay Thomas and lost on a split decision. Light-heavyweight Simon Lowe will not cherish his debut in the ring as the first year Oxford student was stopped in the second round by Swedish light blue Eddie Hult. The whitewash was then secured in stunning fashion as Adrian Teare knocked out Oxford heavyweight Peter Henderson in the first round with a brutal right hook. Oxford president Ronald Highet told BBC Oxford: "9-0 doesn't really do justice." "[My team] really stood up for themselves and did well, but unfortunately Cambridge was the better man on the day." Victorious Cambridge coach Vincent O'Shea said: "The guys really pulled it out of the bag for me because they know how much this meant to me". But Oxford can take some solace from the history books because the last time they went down 9-0 to Cambridge, they went on to win the Truelove Bowl for the next three years running.
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