Thumbs down for luckless Walsall Wood ace

The 14-year-old, who competes for Walsall Wood Boxing Club, defeated the capable Joshua Da Silva in the area decider last weekend.

His formidable use of the jab kept Solihull's Da Silva at bay enough to claim a split decision points victory and the Midlands vest, writes Craig Birch.

But Khan won't be able to participate when the Junior competition is back in Birmingham on Sunday, this time at the Emerald Club in Small Heath.

The teenager, who has won all five of his unpaid bouts and had four judges on his side to one against Da Silva, damaged his thumb in training this week and has been forced to pull out.

He was campaigning at 54kg in the boxers born 2000 category, where Priory Park saw all three of their entrants eliminated last weekend.

Jerry Mongan is making plans to go to Sweden as a result, as his hopes of stepping straight up to claim Junior glory came to an end.

A Schoolboys champion last year, he experienced a tough draw at area level as he was eliminated on a split decision.

Mongan stepped through the ropes with 57kg rival Greg Lunt, a national champion himself with Stoke Staffs, at the Irish Centre in Digbeth.

They cancelled each other out over the three rounds, which made for a scruffy bout, edged by Lunt in the first two before a Mongan fight-back.

His work had been smothered but he found room to operate in the last, switching his attacks to the body and head until the final bell sounded.

It went to the cards where Lunt progressed to the first national stages, with Mongan now heading overseas with his brother Michael.

The England international wants to box and train with a Swedish club, sparring and fighting international opponents to enhance his experience.

There was more bad news for Priory Park with both Blake Clarke and Brad Willets stopped in the second round of their bouts.

A frantic start led to Clarke running out of steam against the classy Ibraheem Suliaaman, from Eastside in Birmingham, at 44kg.

He had closed the gap in the first before the dangerous Brummie made space to catch him with a couple of straight hands to the head, forcing a standing count and the finish.

Priory Park felt aggrieved when Willets was halted at 63kg as he traded with Terry Chabvuta, from Willenhall in Coventry.

Chabvuta had been warned for slapping after getting through a left hook, with both rocked shipping punches as they traded at close quarters.

Willets was pegged back by another left before the referee gave him a standing count and called for the bell, with the Black Country teenager and his corner protesting he was fine to continue.

Rugeley's Oliver Cooper benefitted from a bye at 46kg while, in the female side of the 2000 competition, Paige Goodyear awaits a match.

The Schools national title winner is from Brooklands in Dudley, operating out of the gym of former English middleweight champion Darren McDermott.