Express & Star

Benjamin Whittaker heading to Team GB camp

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Wednesbury's Benjamin Whittaker is heading to the home of Team GB boxing next week after being selected for an Emerging Talent camp.

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The 17-year-old, who fights out of Wodensborough Boxing Club, will spend three days training at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

He's already become a national champion in the National Ambition tournament, with a gutsy win over Inder Bassi in the final last December.

The Black Country prospect nearly doubled up in February's England Youth Championships, but was defeated by Jimmy Smith unanimously.

Coach Steve O'Rourke said: "This is great news for the club and, indeed, Ben himself. It's down to all the hard work he and the staff have put in.

"Ben is so dedicated to the sport, he is a very humble and respectful young man who deserves to, at some point, represent his country.

"A lot of our younger boxers look up to his achievements and are inspired by what he as achieved in 33 bouts, where he has won 30.

"He's only ever lost championship fights, the last one to the world No 5, Jimmy Smith from Repton, who has never been beaten at club level."