Marley bounces back and into semi-finals

'Rocky'-style comeback takes boxer into ABA area showdown in three weeks' time

BOXER Marley Churcher pulled off a 'Rocky-style' comeback when he came off the ropes to fight his way into the Senior ABA southern area cruiserweight semi-finals a week after being seemingly knocked out of the competition.

He was beaten by Poole's Chris Billam Smith in the regional bout at Plymouth the previous week, and Thames Valley ABC fighter Churcher was offered a last-minute reprieve.

"We had only 48 hours notice," said coach Paul Cooke. “We had a phone call on Thursday saying that Chris Billam Smith had pulled out with an arm injury and Marley was back in.

“I asked him if he wanted to do it. He only had two days notice, but he had kept in training, hadn't put on any weight at all and said his shoulder was okay, so he said he would go for it and we made the long trek.”

Churcher responded brilliantly, travelling to Great Yarmouth and entering the ring close to midnight to beat Moulescombe's Ed Lawrence on a clear verdict.

“It was like a ‘Rocky' movie,” said Cooke, who will now lead Churcher and his supporters into action in the semi-finals at Dagenham Park School in Barking on Saturday April 30.