Nine go for area glory in England Juniors

Shropshire has staged all three regional rounds with Tristan Davies' Donnington gym again the hosts at the Telford district's Sports & Social Club.

The second national tournament on the unpaid calendar for 2016 continues with two divisions separated by age, one encompassing 2000-2001 born entrants and another solely for 2001.

Area honours are on offer along with a place in the first national stages, the pre quarter-finals, on Sunday afternoon with 18 bouts scheduled in total.

The action begins in the 2001 only 'cadet' class where James Mongan is looking to pick up his first title on his Junior debut, writes Craig Birch.

Mongan, a former Schools national champion boxing out of Priory Park in Dudley, goes up against 46kg rival Steven Dowling, from Hall Green in Birmingham.

Raheem Mohammed, from Merridale in Wolverhampton, has an opportunity to progress at 48kg when he takes on Anthony Wilson, from O'Dells in Birmingham.

Lewis Morris, of Richie Carter's Golden Gloves gym in Wolverhampton, tackles Stoke Staffs' Lewis Proffitt at 50kg.

Wednesbury's Jevan Johal comes into the reckoning with a 52kg match against Josh Finch, from Clearys in Leamington Spa.

Rugeley Police's Myles Basford completes the interest in the cadets section at 54kg, as one of the few to have already fought in the tournament.

A second round stoppage of Merridale's Muin Khan has proved to be enough for him to sit out this phase and go straight through on a bye.

In the 2000-01 category, Johal's club-mate Mohammed Ali has his own chance to progress if he can defeat Ryan Dixon, from Exhall in Coventry, in a 46kg encounter.

Warley's Owen Brown, like Basford, has one bout under his belt in the Juniors so far, seeing off Wellington Boxing Academy's Hamza Hussain on a points split decision.

Brown now goes toe-to-toe with Coventry Boys' Zunid Patel at 50kg, with Rugeley's Oliver Cooper eliminated from the 52kg running last weekend.

Cooper lasted the three-round distance with the strong Liam McCarthy, of Bell Green in Coventry, but was given a standing count in the second. He lost by majority points decision.

Rhamatullah Sher, of Lions in Dudley, also bowed out at 54kg despite pushing Wesley Griffiths, from Tom Lowe in Stoke-on-Trent, close. A unanimous call seemed harsh.

Walsall Wood's Hamzah Ahmed is in contention at 57kg and has been paired with the Second City's Ellis Truman for a tasty test.

Wodensborough's Shaun Rutherford is another to have already featured in the competition and will next face Stratford's Jordan Lee.

Rutherford previously came from behind on the cards to dump out Worcester City's George Butler on a never-say-die split.

Merridale's Conna Hincks, the reigning England Junior Development champion, faces old rival Brandon Pinnock at 66kg.

'The Bradley Bullet' - from Bilston - scored a National Association of Girls & Boys Club win over Pinnock, from Christ the King in Coventry, last season.