Salisbury ABC
Salisbury ABC is an English boxing club that was formed in the heart of Liverpool's inner-city in 1974. The club, which has become universally known as "the Solly," was born through the ideas of Tony Lynch, who was club coach and secretary (and passed away in 1996), Tony Wright (now life vice president), Johnny Reagan, and Alan Lynch (coach & club matchmaker). It has had three homes, all in Salisbury Street, from which it derives its name.
The club members trained in the Community Hall and then in 1982 moved up the road to take over the basement area of the Metal building. A futher nine years on saw the removal vans in again to transport the gym to the Strada Hall, opposite the Metal building. The Strada Hall was originally built for the use of all kids in the area. The Solly club, based in the Everton area of the city, has enjoyed steady growth, coupled with successes at national and international level since its formation in 1974.
A visit to a squad session, under-19 or full England, at any time in the 1980s and 1990s is testimony to the prominent position of the unity as the Solly will always be represented. The coaches, however. are not squad-washed and the key to Salisbury's success is the individuality of their boxers, On the boxing front, the club did not have to wait long for its first A.B.A senior title--just two years, in fact. when light-heavyweight Greg Evans claimed the 81kgs title in 1976. Evans represented England on two occasions after his Wembley victory, dropping a decision to American Milford Kemp, but stopping future British heavyweight champion Gordon Ferrias.
Apart from Greg Evans's success in the 1970s there is one other name to add: a young light middleweight boxer for the club. But he soon left for a new life in Australia where, in 1982, he won the Australian light middleweight title. His name is Kenny Salisbury (not as some people believe the name behind the club), who, in 1984, won the Commonwealth title to add to Australian title. Salibury returned to Britain in 1985 to lose to Nick Wilshire on a second round cut eye.
| No | Name | DOB | Age | Weight | Bouts | Won | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adam Ismail | 16th FEB 1985 | 22 | 70kg | 21 | 16 | 05 |
| 2 | Chris Bower | 03 MAY 1989 | 18 | 66kg | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 3 | Chris Daily | 11 APR 1988 | 19 | 80kg | 13 | 07 | 06 |
| 4 | Danny Angus | 15 APR 1980 | 27 | 67kg | 66 | 38 | 28 |
| 5 | Darel Easy | 22 JUL 1983 | 23 | 75kg | 06 | 03 | 03 |
| 6 | Gareth Hallsal | 15 NOV 1984 | 22 | 81kg | 10 | 07 | 03 |
| 7 | David Price | 06 JUL 1983 | 23 | 109kg | 59 | 45 | 14 |
| 8 | Esam Saleh | 07 MAY 1985 | 22 | 57kg | 16 | 09 | 07 |
| 9 | James Metcalf | 27 JUL 1988 | 18 | 69kg | 02 | 01 | 01 |
| 10 | James Wilson | 06 FEB 1986 | 21 | 71kg | 02 | 01 | 01 |
| 11 | Joe Tonks | 23 JAN 1987 | 20 | 60kg | 19 | 11 | 08 |
| 12 | Liam Donnelly | 28 JUL 1987 | 19 | 60kg | 05 | 03 | 02 |
| 13 | Nicholas Whelan | 09 MAY 1989 | 18 | 65kg | 00 | 00 | 00 |
| 14 | Paul Edwards | 01 OCT 1986 | 20 | 52kg | 68 | 55 | 13 |