Bulyka looks one for the future despite national title defeat

Bulyka and Bourne…no titles, but shone in ABA championships

CLEARYS Boxing, in Leamington, may not have emerged from the ABA development championships with the title the gym craved.

But I feel the competition unveiled a potential dominant force in Reni Bulyka.

That’s not diminishing the efforts of super-heavy Joe Bourne, a 19 stone, 6ft 4ins colossus, who reached Saturday’s semi-final, held at Cannock Leisure Centre.

But experience has told me big men start with the weight of hope and expectation on their broad shoulders. With heavyweights, the public wait to be proved wrong, not right.

What I liked about Bulyka is the fact the 17-year-old lightweight developed during the course of the championships. And let’s not forget he fought seven times in five weeks to reach Sunday’s youth final, also held at the leisure centre. He got there with no favours.

In the final, he lost a tight, split decision to Robert Isaac of Western Warriors.

“I thought Reni’s was a bad decision, I’ll be honest,” said gym boss Edwin Cleary. “He had two points taken off for holding, but, in that respect, they were as bad as each other.

“Reni boxed seven times in five weeks – that’s unprecedented. He could be a superstar, I truly believe that.”

Reni, who has now lost three of 19, certainly isn’t brooding about the loss. “He’s not licking his wounds,” Edwin added. “He’s out again on Friday in the CYPs.”

In the semis, Bourne, aged 26, came across the only man to beat him in the amateur ranks, Finchley’s Jessie Olupgian.

The London southpaw, who has a single loss in 18 bouts, again got the nod by split decision.

“He was tricky and quite clever,” said Edwin. “He went on to win the title, beating someone Joe has stopped. Joe just found him hard to hit, but I think over three, three minute rounds Joe would get to him. His fitness was far better.

“He’s not disheartened. He boxed five times to get to the semis and he’s out again on our club show on December 2.”

Edwin added: “I’m immensely proud of both Joe and Reni. Experience – you can’t buy it, beg it or pretend to have it. That’s something they both gained.”