Title hopefuls continue their Development

The competition got underway last Saturday as the hunt for national titles began with the first area rounds,

Donnington Boxing Club are hosting the event at their venue on Turreff Avenue, Telford, until the culmination of the West Midlands finals next weekend.

Both the junior and senior ranks are taking place simultaneously this year, in an event especially designed to showcase novice boxers.

The juniors, all featuring fighters of between two to 10 bouts of experience, are divided into two age ranges by weight. Class A is for boxers born in 2001, while Class B is for 2000.

Josh Jeavons, from Priory Park in Dudley, is already through to the juniors' national stages at 70kg in Class A, walking over the area phases without competing.

The same applies to Priory Park's Tom McDonagh at 50kg in Class B, but club-mate Brad Willetts must box an area final against Aston's Michael Beardshaw at 70kg next weekend.

Callum Darby, of Lions in Dudley, also undertakes a West Midlands decider at 57kg against Stratford & District's Jason Johnson.

Kane Woods, from Wildstar in Walsall, is awaiting the winner of Sunday's 66kg clash between Aston's Chad Lyons and Tyler Holles, of Triumph in Coventry.

Also through to the national stages is Wolverhampton's Ryan Cotterell, with no area match for him at 80kg plus.

The senior section for ages 17 and upwards and divided by experience and weights, with Class A for 2-10 bouts and Class B for 11-20 contests.

Three Black Country fighters must undertake Class A area semi-finals on Sunday at Donnington with Mitchell Stevens, Justin Thomas and Hosea Stewart all paired for action.

Stevens, from Brooklands in Dudley, will oppose Second City's Wajech Woronoweicz at 81kg while Willenhall Town's Thomas combats Leamington Spa's Mario Piwonar in a 91kg clash.

Stewart, out of Wolverhampton's Firewalker gym, is entered at the highest weight class, the 91kg plus super heavy ranks. He has Mark Cheetham, from Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

In Class B, two more Black Country hopefuls contest last four clashes on Sunday. Warley's Coree Clarke is through to the national stages at super heavy on a bye.

Nathan Samuels and Jonty Carnegie will first both look to progress by stepping through the ropes at Donnington, representing Merridale in Wolverhampton.

Samuels will engage in a 69kg tussle with Ryan Jobson, from Tom Lowe in Stoke-on-Trent, while Carnegie goes toe-to-toe with Abdul Samad, from Birmingham's Eastside.

Spectators are invited to Sunday's boxing at Donnington. Entry is £10 for adults and £5 for children and concessions, payable on the door.

The fighters will weigh in between 10am and 12pm, when doors then opening to the public ahead of a 1pm start.