Express & Star

It's semi-final time in the Developments

A host of Black Country fighters will look to secure their places in the national final of the England Development Championships.

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All but one still in the running to claim the competition's titles will step through the ropes in Doncaster on Sunday,

writes Craig Birch.

Most are one bout away from a decider going into the semi-finals, after the quarters last weekend shortened the field further.

Last eight ties took place at the Riddings Sports Hall in Scunthorpe, with some walking over the phase without boxing.

One of two sections features the juniors, all entrants of between two to 10 bouts of experience, separated into two age ranges. Class A is for boxers born in 2001, while Class B is for 2000.

Coming into the competition after byes at 70kg in Class A was Josh Jeavons, from Priory Park Boxing Club in Dudley.

Jeavons showed no signs of ring rust as he completed the three-round distance and defeated Cain Quinn, of Aldercar & Langley Mill in Derbyshire, unanimously on points.

Ruby Scott, from the Right Stuff in Stafford, won't figure on the female side of the juniors at 57kg in Class A until the semis.

Kane Woods, from Wildstar in Walsall, bowed out at 63kg in Class B after being downed unanimously by Callum Heagney, from Sileby Boxing Academy in Leicestershire.

Wolverhampton Boxing Club's Ryan Cotterell will finally go up against James Ling, of Empire in Bristol, at 80kg in Doncaster.

They were due to meet in the quarters but the contest was upgraded to a semi, as there are only two other entrants at the weight nationwide.

The seniors, for boxers aged 17 and upwards, is divided into two classes by experience. Class A is for 2-10 bouts, with Class B 11-20 contests.

Hosea Stewart's run continues after another victory at 91kg plus in Class A. Stewart, of Firewalker in Wolverhampton, beat South Derbyshire's Billy Lee Watkins unanimously.

Wolverhampton's Clayton Bricknell, who now represents the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, comes into the semis after benefitting from two walkovers at 64kg in Class B.

Bricknell, who won his area final by second round TKO, has seen Wirral's Jay Holmes and Jack Corcoran, from South Normanton in Derbyshire, pull out on him since.

Warley's Coree Clarke, now a senior after reaching a national final and winning the gold medal at the Three Nations as a Youth fighter, is still entered in the 91kg heavyweight division.

Walsall Wood's Kelly Hickenbottom has had a long wait to box a straight final in the female seniors at 57kg, with only one other entrant at the weight nationwide.

Club-mate Emeline Serra was eliminated after a quarter-final at 64kg in Class A, with Priory Park's Paige Dudley going through unanimously.

Another Wood girl, Omarah Taylor, crashed out by TKO after going down by third round stoppage to Aston's Elina Ingram at 75kg.

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