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Black Country duo strike gold at York Hall

Black Country duo Conah Walker and Solomon Dacres struck gold to become national champions for the first time.

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They went home happy from the England Senior Championships after their final fights in the competition last weekend, writes Craig Birch.

Both have given up playing rugby to pursue their boxing dreams, although Dacres is still involved in the sport coaching in primary schools.

Their deciding bouts came under the lights of the historic York Hall in London's Bethnal Green, which is arguably the best-known boxing arena in the country.

Walker had to go the distance to claim top honours with a frantic finale, but Dacres got the job done in style with a first round stoppage.

Wolverhampton's Walker, out of the city's Merridale club, took on Roderick Douglas at 75kg in Class A, for boxers with two to 10 bouts.

The 20-year-old from Bradmore, who turned the oval ball for Wolverhampton, brought with him an army of fans clad in t-shirts for support.

The game operator, who works as a tiler for the council, controlled the first two rounds but was dragged into the trenches come the third.

Walker had forced a standing eight count in the second after a flurry opened Douglas, from Broad Street, up to be primed with the right hand to double up on left hooks.

Under no illusions, the Londoner went for the stoppage in the last to try and save the fight, leading to toe-to-toe stuff as they traded blows.

The final bell ended his chances of turning the tide as they went to the cards, with Walker's hand raised by unanimous points decision.

He said: "I finished up with a black eye afterwards, I seem to get one every time I get in there! I didn't care, the win was all that mattered.

"I could have hung back in the third, really, but I'm a pressure fighter and I got dragged into a brawl. He came at me like a bat out of hell.

"I only took up boxing again a year-and-a-half ago, I did a bit with Graisley as a kid but then I was playing rugby. I joined Merridale not long after it opened.

"I'm still learning and it's an amazing feeling to get to where I have. I had 80-100 supporters at York Hall and they lit the place up for me.

"It's given me a taste of the big time. When you've got people believing in you, you believe in yourself and there's no limits to what I can achieve."

Merridale have their third national champion this year, after Schools girl Simran Kaur and England Junior Development titlist Conna Hincks.

Walker will have to go up to Class B (11 to 20 contests) if he's to stay in the Development tournament next year, after improving his unpaid record to 12-0.

His five wins in the competition were matched in emphatic fashion by super heavyweight Dacres, 22, who brought glory to Warley in swift order.

The big hitter from Bearwood - who played lock for the likes of Moseley, Birmingham & Solihull and Bromsgrove - was at 91kg plus in Class B.

Courtney Bennett, from Double Jab in the capital, had his gum-shield blasted out as he rocked by a right uppercut, forcing the standing eight.

He couldn't last the end of the opening session after the referee intervened with seconds left, with Bennett on the ropes and in trouble again.

Dacres said: "I've gave away 20kg plus to some lads I've come across, but it's come down to performing with speed, movement and intelligence.

"I've got my feet right and looked to establish the jab early on, which really paid off here. I've done loads over the past month and it's been great.

"I'm looking to go in the England Elite Championships next year and work my way up to becoming a professional boxer."

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