Area kings go forth in ABA Schoolboys

Midlands champions Liam Gould and James Beech are set to take their first foray into the national stages of the ABA Schoolboys competition.

They join Aston ABC's George Battenbough in the pre quarter-finals at the Manchester Boxing Centre of Excellence on Sunday afternoon.

All three picked up ABA Schoolboys Midlands titles for the first time at the Liberal Club in Bedworth last weekend to make it through.

Battenbough saw off one of the favourites, Walsall Wood ABC's Joseph Jenkins, in his first year competing in the tournament.

The Cardinal Wiseman School pupil now takes his place in Class One - boxers born in 1999 - against Manx ABC's Conor Pinnington at 38kg.

Gould, nephew of former pro and ABA senior finalist Jimmy, has already showed his never-say-die attitude to get to this stage.

The William Perry ABC fighter went out in the first round last year and came from a round down to become Midlands champion last weekend.

The next test for the Coseley High School student in Class Two - boxers born in 1998 - is Ashton Albion ABC's Alex Clegg at 48kg.

And Clegg could prove to be a surprise package for all after Gould's trainer, Ossie Garratt, attempted a fact-finding mission.

He said: "Someone has took the kid's record off the internet, that's the first time I have ever known that to happen.

"That suggests to me that it isn't great, or they would use it to intimidate us, knowing we would come and look.

"But Liam is a very talented kid and I would put him in against any kid of his own age and weight in the country.

"His main asset is his heart, he never gives up and that breaks his opponent's heart.

"If he can box in and out, I fancy him to win the tournament."

Beech is in the oldest of the weight classes - Class Three, boxers born in 1997 - and boxes at 48kg against Chorley ABC's Matthew Walton.

This year is his last chance to go all the way in the competition but don't expect him to come bombing f0rward.

The Pleck ABC fighter, who attends Brownhills Comprehensive School, is a counter puncher and that will factor into coach Tony Leonard's tactics.

He said: "We always take it each fight as it comes and prepare for three eventualities in the ring.

"We get James as fit as possible and play to his strengths, which has got us this far.

"James has good foot work and is a fast counter puncher, so we are working to that.

"Hopefully, we can encourage this lad to come forward and onto James, so he can pick him off."