World champ for Wood in junior ABAs

Wednesbury ABC's Jack Wood will be looking to drag Pat McCormack into the trenches when he meets the world champion in the junior ABA competition.

Wood was a national semi-finalist in the junior ABAs last year and meets the fighter who lost to Archie Sharp in that final at 54kg on Sunday.

Their clash in the quarter-final comes in the next age group - Class Five, for boxers born in 1995 - at the Manchester Boxing Centre of Excellence.

McCormack bounced back from last season's junior ABA defeat to bring a first-ever world title to Birtley Boys ABC in Gateshead later that year.

But Wood has done his homework and will not pay his opponent too much respect when they climb through the ropes, trainer Anthony Tobin insists.

The 17-year-old will look to prove to McCormack he has superior strength and power if their tactics of going toe-to-toe comes off, according to Tobin.

He said: "Jack is game, he knows what's he is up against and he's quite positive about it.

"He will get in there and won't give him a minute, that's how Jack boxes.

"I have seen Pat fight a few times and, if you let him do what he wants, he will box your head off.

"It's going to be a scrappy bout but Jack is stronger and he will stand there all day for a brawl.

"We have had to get him out of that - and now we are going to have to get him right back into it!

"But he can he read a fight, he's been watching this kid on You Tube and he isn't bothered at all.

"That's Jack all over, he's tough. If you give them too much respect, you might as well pack up."

Wood walked over the pre-quarter finals without boxing last weekend, as the North West Region had not posted an entrant at 54kg.

But the Black Country still caused a shock, as Pleck ABC's Liam Etheridge knocked out five-time national amateur champion Marc Leach at 54kg.

Etheridge is back in action on Saturday in Class Six - for boxers born in 1994 - against Sam Wallace, from Grainger Park ABC in Newcastle.

Walsall Wood ABC's Daniel Breeze also competes on Saturday in Class Four - for boxers born in 1996 - at 66kg.

The England international is expected to make light work of Darren Fox, from Toothill ABC in County Durham.

Fox hasn't boxed yet in the competition having received a bye to this point and is a three-fight novice, having lost one.

Breeze, conversely, has nearly 50 amateur bouts under his belt and was a two-time national champion in the ABA Schoolboys.