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Camden Sports - STEVE BARNETT
Published: 11 December 2008

Dynamite Kid Darren Ballinger with Islington Boxing Club coaches Jerry Mitchell (left) and Bevis Allen

Dynamite Kid just heartbeat away from novice crown

DYNAMITE Darren Ballinger is just one fight a way from being crowned National Champion after he secured a place in the final of the Senior Novice Championships on Sunday.
The triumphant 25-year-old went head-to-head with Joe Fahey of Gravesham ABC in the semi-finals in what he described as his biggest test to date.
The hard-hitting lightweight, who trains at Islington Boxing Club, got off to a slow start in the opening round against an opponent boasting an impressive 10 wins from 11 bouts.
Ballinger settled into his rhythm in the second round as he countered Fahey’s relentless attacking style with an array of solid, accurate punches.
With the fighters going into the third and final round with almost identical points, it was Ballinger who prevailed thanks to his tremendous stamina.
Once again his trusted right hand did all the damage as Fahey was forced to take a standing count after being rocked by the Dynamite Kid.
At the sound of the final bell Ballinger was declared the winner on points, earning him a place in this Sunday’s final in Nottinghamshire.
Meanwhile on Saturday club-mate Mirsad Brahimi made it three wins out of three with a points victory over Jamie Long at the Five Star ABC show in Romford, Essex.
The unorthodox middleweight caught Long with some powerful overhand rights in the opening round, before keeping his opponent against the ropes in the second with a barrage of telling shots.
Towards the end of round two, Long fouled Brahimi with a low body shot, which fired up the Islington fighter.
He responded in aggressive style with a series of clinical punches.
Brahimi went on to dominate the final round to earn a convincing points victory.

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