Express & Star

Rugeley lad Myles ahead for Schools victory

Published
Last updated

Rugeley's Myles Basford will bring the fear factor into Sunday's England Schools national semi-finals after a knockout win.

more

The Rugeley Police Boxing Club fighter now travels to the De Montfort Sports Hall in Evesham buoyed by a resounding stoppage victory,

writes Craig Birch.

Now standing in his way at 52kg in Class B - fighters born 2001 - is fellow area champion Douglas Pattison, from Hunslet in Huddersfield.

Basford finished the job early in his quarter-final after Michael Jeory, from Preston & Fullwood, was pulled out after a second standing count.

Devastating attacks had forced the referee to act in the second round and again in the third, with a dazed Jeory in no fit state to continue.

Joining him in progressing from Birmingham's Great Barr Leisure Centre to a last four clash is James Mongan, from Priory Park in Dudley.

Winners - James Mongan (left) celebrates reaching the last four with older brother and former Schools champion Jerry.

Mongan, younger brother of former Schoolboys national champion Jerry, eased past Croxteth's Sam Turner at 40kg unanimously on points.

But there was disappointment in Class B for Raheem Mohammed and Muin Khan, from Merridale in Wolverhampton, as they bowed out.

Mohammed came off second best unanimously to Jimmy Egan's protege Samson Burton at 48kg, while Khan was nudged out on a split decision to 50kg rival Leon Cooney, from Wirral Community.

The journey has also come to an end for Jagbir Mann, Spencer Hurst and Cole Lee in Class A, boxers born 2002.

Wednesbury's Mann had emerged from a packed 35.5kg category with the West Midlands vest but got short shrift out of Syed Ali, from Hamer in Rochdale, and was defeated unanimously.

Pleck's Hurst had taken area honours with victory over Birmingham City's Louai Ali, but couldn't repeat the trick on a split with High Side's Adam Smith at 40kg.

Wodensborough's Lee was back in 50kg action as the West Midlands rounds' only first-round stoppage winner, but was on the wrong side of another split to Anthony Reilly, from FIT2XL in Blackburn.

There's still healthy representation in the 'minors' (2003), though, with Walsall Wood still represented by a fresh Hamza Uddin at 29.5kg.

Uddin's opening round success over Wednesbury's Gurbir Mann has proved enough to see him through to the semi-finals, where he will meet Sunderland's Wallace McLeod.

It came after Wood lost both Reece Zingal and Billy Chard, Zingal out on a split to Sefton's Jack Blood at 34kg while Chard lost another close call at 35.5kg against James Mason, from Sharp Style in Blackpool.

Awais Ali, from Priory Park, saw a third split finally go to the host county's corner, handing him a useful victory over Everton Red Triangle's Denny Melia.

Ali now heads to Evesham, for a 38.5kg bout against Spennymoor's Taylor Jacques. His club-mate, Kyle Chumber, was eliminated unanimously at 32.5kg against Ellis Grant, from Transport in Merseyside.

Wednesbury remain represented by Brindley Smith at 31kg, who has yet to box in the competition. He's been paired with Birtley's Owen Brady.

Merridale are still represented by Simran Kaur (second from right) will box a straight final in the Schools competition.

The female side of the competition has seen Merridale's Simran Kaur handed a straight final, at a yet to be determined venue in Sheffield.

A clash with Jackie Birch, from St Mary's of Kent, at 43kg in Class B will be for a national title in her first bout of competition boxing.

Club-mate Kara Murray might not get the chance to go for glory, though, unless she can come down in weight to occupy a different category.

There's no opponent throughout for her at 62kg, so it's been suggested that she drop to 59kg while Irlam's Daisy Preston (56kg) moves up.

The same problem has almost certainly cost Chloe Bastock, from Right Stuff, a title at 37kg in Class A, with no option anywhere around her.

[interruptor]