CHARD professional boxer Paul Roberts shared the spoils with Brett Fidoe at Plymouth’s Guildhall on Friday night.

Roberts said: “It was a massive step up and the fight was back and forth.

“I wasn’t overly happy with my performance, but a lot of people told me they thought I’d done enough [to win].”

Roberts plans to drop down a weight division for his next fight, which will be on April 14 at London’s York Hall.

Three of Chard ABC’s brightest young prospects, meanwhile, shone last Saturday (February 3) with superb victories against their opponents from Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy.

Spencer Ayers kept his cool in a scrappy fight against home favourite Lewis Mitchell, who tried to smother the skill of Ayers, but the Chard lad won the bout on a unanimous decision.

Shane Hughes was up against Kingy Smith, an opponent who had beaten Hughes previously.

This time was a different story, however, as Hughes boxed exactly to instruction, stuck to his gameplan and put in an outstanding display to win a unanimous decision.

Completing Chard’s hat-trick of victories was Fire Virk, 15, who proved far too strong for Sonny Driscoll.

Virk caught his opponent with a strong right hand early in the first round and dominated from that point onwards to win another unanimous decision.

Coach Keith Roberts said: “This was one of our best performances as a club.

“They are a full-time boxing gym and all three of our lads faced tough opponents, so they did really well.”

The trio have each worked with Chard pro Roberts, who said of the youngsters: “They are coming on brilliantly and this will do wonders for them.

“They know they can do it now, so it’s up to them to keep training hard which I’m sure they will.”

Ayers will be defending his Western Counties title in May and hopes to earn a place at the nationals later this year.