Benjamin Whittaker out of the Youth Euros
Darlaston's Benjamin Whittaker will miss out on a medal after going out of the European Youth Championships in Poland.
The England captain was eliminated, on a hotly-disputed split decision, by Irish rival John Joyce after their quarter-final clash tonight.
Victory would have guaranteed him, at least, bronze in what will be the 18-year-old's last involvement at youth level, writes Craig Birch.
A keenly-contested bout with his Irish counterpart went the distance, with some doubt as to where the result was heading. In the end, Joyce had his hand raised.
Whittaker, who fights out of Wodensborough Boxing Club, will now take part in Team GB assessments next month before stepping up to the seniors in 2016.
He takes with him two national titles and silver from the Commonwealth Youth Games two months ago.
He'd scored two wins in the Euros before tumbling out, too, having removed his first opponent after a round on the opening day.
His rival from Belarus, Petar Nosic, retired at the end of the first session hurt in the corner, after being put down twice in swift order.
Whittaker's right hand proved a menace and bowled over Nosic on a couple of occasions, blows even the brief respite of the bell couldn't save him from.
He then outclassed Italy's Giovanni Sarchioto on day two, comfortably winning all of the three rounds in a unanimous points victory.
A total of 266 boxers from 37 countries are gunning for glory inside Kolobrzeg's Hala Millennium Arena over a total of eight days.
