England for Jack Wood despite Elite final loss
Walsall's Jack Wood will still make his debut for England's senior team despite his nemesis coming back to haunt him in the Elite final.
The Wednesbury Boxing Club fighter lost for a second time to Luke McCormack after a stellar show from the top seed on Sunday,
He battled through to thwart Wood, after beating him in the 2012 national semi-finals of the Clubs for Young People competition, and take the belt.
Wood had battled through Friday's pre-quarters and Saturday's semi, putting out the third and then second rated at 60kg, at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
But the 20-year-old will still represent his country at the Elite's Three Nations, though, after moving to No 2 in the weight's rankings.
England are the host nation this year so can make two entries, while Scotland and Wales only have one.
And trainer Stuart Grainger said: "Everyone associated with the club is so proud of Jack, there's no disgrace for him and he was unlucky to lose in the final.
"He's still going to box for England and he will be staying at the weight, as he feels comfortable and he's done fantastically well.
"Next year, hopefully, it will come down to him and McCormack again in the Elite final. Maybe it will be third time lucky!"
Wood first ousted Archie Sharp, from Rumbles in Kent, by split decision with aggression getting him the nod on points.
Then came the Army's Ryan Fillingham, who met him toe-to-toe for one of the fights of the day. Wood sharper work saw him through unanimously.
McCormack had been nursing a cut above his eye since the quarters and had to hit and move over three rounds.
He picked his shots and slipped throughout as he conceded the centre of the ring, with Wood struggling to pin him down.
Wood put the pressure on, but McCormack stayed a moving target and protected his injury, which led him to the title unanimously.
Grainger said: "I thought Jack deserved a lot more on the cards, but you have to give credit to Luke. He's a class operator.
"He was wary of Jack and rightly so, he was the talk of the place all weekend as the underdog who was beating everybody.
"He knew about Jack's power and did everything he could to stay out of his way. As it turns out, it worked for him."
