Liam Etheridge finally wins a national title

The former ABA Schoolboys and junior finalist was declared the majority points victor at the Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy on Saturday.

The 19-year-old, competing in his 75th amateur fight, had to battle past Thomas Kindon, from Guildford ABC in Surrey, at 54kg in Class C, for boxers born in 1994 and 1995.

Etheridge had already dumped out the hot favourite by beating three-time national champion Reece Mould, from Doncaster Plant Works ABC, in the semi-finals.

And the Walsall stylist came out all guns blazing in the final and regularly tagged Kindon with left hooks and combination punches in the first round, a theme that continued in the second session.

Kindon had to come out and throw the kitchen sink at Etheridge in the third and final round, but the West Midlander kept tight and held court in the middle of the ring to take the win.

In the female senior ABA championships on Sunday, Stafford's Right Stuff ABC will have a presence in the national final after Sophie Stewart again edged closer to a title.

But there was disappointment for club-mate Megan Ellis in the ABA Schools championships, as she took two standing eight counts before the fight was stopped in the second round.

Her semi-final conqueror was Delcie Boyle, from Brentwood Youth ABC, at 66kg in Class Three, for boxers born in 1998.

Former national champion Stewart soundly defeated St Albans ABC's Rebecca Stone by unanimous points decision at 48kg in Class C, for fighters who have had none to five bouts.

At 54kg in the senior ABA semi-finals, Walsall Wood's Rachel Coton bowed out of the competition with a majority points defeat against Hastings ABC's Belinda Skinner.

But Amie Smith, from Priory Park ABC in Dudley, advanced at 57kg after recording a unanimous points verdict over Alessia Walker, from Lynn ABC in London.

Victoria Morgan, from Lions ABC in Dudley, is also through to the final with a majority points win after a 71kg contest with Marnie Swindels, from the capital's Double Jab ABC.