Jerry Mongan deserves his Schoolboys glory

The Dudley-based gym had turned out 11 national champions before this month, with Mongan having to fight tooth-and-nail to make it a dozen.

The teenage traveller, who is home schooled, nudged a split decision at the Huddersfield Sports Centre in the 54kg category of Class B, for boxers born 2000.

Victory over Pinewood's Wayne Owen took the 14-year-old all the way to the delight of trainers Warren Davis and Peter Upton, along with brother Michael, in his corner.

Davis said: "We are all really chuffed for Jerry and out of all the national titles we have won as a club, I think this one was the hardest earned.

"He's done really well, he's had some tough opponents from good clubs and he had to box three times just to get past the Midlands rounds.

"Then we had pre-quarter, quarter and semi-finals, all away from home and all over the country, so he's really had to pull out all of the stops.

"He reached the semi-final last year but only boxed once, coming across a kid who went up a weight this time and is still destroying everybody. There was no shame in that."

Trainer Davies believes his young prodigy has come on leaps and bounds during his second stint in the competition.

He said: "When we had him early doors, all Jerry used to do was fight as he's a travelling lad who tends to be quite aggressive in the ring.

"But his footwork and boxing skills have come into play this year, he can still mix it up or fight on the back-foot if he needs to.

"He's not the finished article yet, as he's only 14, but he's becoming a bit more of an all-rounder. He's definitely improved from last year."