Benjamin Whittaker in England Youth final

Benjamin Whittaker is a fight away from a second straight national title after victory in the semi-finals of the England Youth Championships.

The Wodensborough Boxing Club combatant and National Ambition champion has been in imperious form over the tournament so far and was again on Sunday.

The promising 16-year-old recorded a fifth straight unanimous points win at 69kg in Class A - for boxers born in 1997 - Bridlington's Zak Stabler the latest to fall victim.

Whittaker pinned down a strong opponent as he tried to bob and weave out of danger and primed him for combinations from the jab, forcing Stabler onto the back foot.

But James Beech, from Pleck BC, was stopped on his feet against multi-time national champion Issac Milburn, from the famed Birtley Boys Club in Northumberland.

Their thrilling semi-final at 56kg in Class A wowed Liverpool's Croxeth Sports Centre, with Beech taking standing eight counts in the first and second rounds from right hooks.

He battled back to floor and stun Milburn with a left hook but the England international showed his own mettle to end the fight in the third, as he rained blows down on Beech.