JOE Bendall suffered a narrow defeat in his first fight in three years. The 21-year-old Haddenham boxer lost out to Wisbech ABC s K Williams in a highly entertaining under-75kg match at the Peterborough Open Show on Saturday night. After a bruising three-

JOE Bendall suffered a narrow defeat in his first fight in three years.

The 21-year-old Haddenham boxer lost out to Wisbech ABC's K Williams in a highly entertaining under-75kg match at the Peterborough Open Show on Saturday night.

After a bruising three-round encounter, the Wisbech puncher won by a majority decision.

Coach Mick Sawyer said: "It was a cracking match and it could have gone either way. Both boys were hitting very hard and you could expect to pay good money to watch a fight like that.

"Joe's taken three years out of boxing because of pressures of work and other things in his life, but now he's back, he's focused and he's training hard.

"Joe's a warrior and a hitman and I'm pleased that he's got this first fight out of the way. He fought well and he now knows what it's all about."

Charlie Sawyer's return from a three-month shoulder injury was short-lived.

The Haddenham youngster looked dangerous, landing some clean left-hooks and firm straight rights, but the referee stopped the contest in the first round after the referee gave him two standing eight-counts when his opponent, Wisbech's J Crosby, twice had him pinned against the ropes.

Mick Sawyer said: "Charlie was unmarked and good to go on but referees are very protective of youngsters in amateur boxing, and I suppose that's a good thing really.