HENRY’S Gym have achieved an unassailable landmark after their latest night of boxing saw the home club emerge with a 100 per cent record from their eight fights.

The rare achievement has come just four years after former world-title challenger Henry Wharton threw the doors open at the site of the former Regent Cinema in Acomb.

Jay Ajayi stopped his opponent and the others who had their hands raised on a memorable evening were distance-winners Miley Imeson, Eddie Croft, Harry Kelly, Sonny Wharton, Jason Imeson, Lewis Burrell and senior Rob McGill.

A thrilled Wharton said: “It was a phenomenal achievement and something we can only repeat now. It can’t be eclipsed, so we’ve got to go out and do it again.

“It demonstrates how far the lads have come in a short space of time. It also shows if people trust our system, lead a healthy lifestyle and stick with our coaches, who all give up their own time, it works.”

Delivering his rundown on all eight fighters’ performances, Wharton added: “Jay’s had a few losses and was boxing somebody from Penrith who had a better record, but he stopped him in the first round and I’ve always said he will be a future champion. Miley is a Yorkshire champion at 14 and reached the National quarter-finals in his first season, where he was beaten by the eventual champion, which has been his only defeat in eight contests.

“He won against an opponent who had had 29 bouts to his name. Eddie beat a fighter from Brendan Ingle’s famous camp, who he had lost to before, which shows he’s improving all the time.

“He’s now won 11 of his 16 fights, but some of the losses were close ones. Harry is a future star who also lost a few fights early on, but has the potential to be special.

“Sonny is my lad and another who lost a few on the spin but he’s stuck to his work in the gym, never misses a session and is now a model of consistency. He beat another boxer from Penrith and used his skill to battle hard in the third and tip the bout in his favour.

“Jason is a Yorkshire and North-East Counties champion who reached the National quarter-finals and lost to the eventual champion. He has won 13 bouts out of 15 with both defeats coming against the same lad.

“He beat somebody who has fought twice as many fights, and was 6ft 2in when he’s only 5ft 8in, so he was giving away a lot of height and reach. Lewis beat a tough Hartlepool fighter and Rob was our only senior on the night and, at 75kg, he fought a Newcastle opponent who was unbeaten like him.

“But it’s Rob now who has won five from five after he worked well behind his jab and used his skills to come out on top in the last round during a really good bout that was very popular with everybody in the audience.”

Dax Almond, meanwhile, won his first skills fight at the age of ten on the same bill.

Such contests are designed to give the children an introduction to boxing and performing in front of a crowd, with the referee ensuring nobody gets hurt.

The gym’s next night of boxing is on Saturday, February 24 with more details available by calling 07543 636424 or 07912 983671.

A group of the club’s fighters will also compete in Copenhagen on March 24 and anybody interested in sponsoring the team’s kit for the Denmark visit should get in touch on the above numbers.