Boxing is a happy return for Paige Goodyear
It won't take long for Dudley's Paige Goodyear to chase her next boxing dream after she celebrates her 15th birthday on Saturday.
The now two-time national champion will be looking to catch the eye of the international selectors the very next day at an open talent day.
The live-wire teenager from Wren's Nest becomes old enough to box for England competitively as a Youth fighter when she turns 15, writes Craig Birch.
And coach Darren McDermott, who won an English title as a professional and represented England as an amateur, is confident she'll impress.
He said: "It's England all the way for Paige, that's a definite in my mind. I'd match her with anyone in the country at her age.
"When they see how determined she is in the ring, I think they'll pick her. There's no fuss, she just lives and breathes boxing."
The birthday cake may be left in the fridge until McDermott brings her back from the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, as the hopefuls must be within 2kg of their fighting weight.
But Goodyear has achieved most things she's put her mind to, as another accolade in the National Association of Boys & Girls Clubs championships nine days ago suggests.
She added that to her first national honours aged just 12, winning a 46kg England Schools title before stepping up to Junior level.
The High Arcal Secondary School pupil couldn't compete in that England Boxing competition as there were no entrants at her weight of 50kg, so she travelled up again to 52kg.
The opportunity to compete overseas cropped up as she captained a five-girl FLAG (Fight Like A Girl) squad that went to Denmark for the Haslev Box Cup.
It was organised by coach Mick Maguire, from the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, with McDermott joining her on the trip.
It was gold for Goodyear after two victories, the second by stoppage, which set up her nicely for her debut in NAGBC competition.
The revived tournament, which has been resurrected after a year's absence, looked to have thrown two roadblocks along the way.
But national semi-final opponent Melika Afzali, from Stevie Smith's Boxing Academy in Hull, pulled out with a shoulder injury.
In the end, it came down to Goodyear and Guildford's Jessie Stevens to decide who would become Class A's female champion at 52kg.
Their bout at the Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy saw Goodyear take the first round, before Stevens used her skills to level in the second.
A gusty third and final session left the fight hanging in the balance, but Goodyear's work-rate proved key as he prevailed on a split decision.
There's now two gold medals, a pair of golden gloves and a selection of finalist and champion's vests to adorn the walls at home and in the gym.
McDermott, himself a former Schools champion, said: "She's already won more than I did as an amateur! She's proved to be our club's main star.
"She had to tough this one out and, make no mistake, grit and determination got the job done this time. She needs those sort of experiences.
"She's proved to me that she can dig it out when she needs to. It wasn't a clean win, but no-one ever remembers the runner-up.
"She listens more than anyone I train and she's already willing to give me that little bit extra."
The NAGBC competition brought two sets of final heartbreak for Walsall Wood Boxing Club, who saw Ibrahim Khan and Hamzah Ahmed both lose in the final.
Khan was downed at 49kg in Class C (boxers born 1997-98), which was staged at the Sir Phillip Game Centre in Croydon, on the Thursday night.
A unanimous points decision went against him after the distance with England international Nathan Brown, from the Hooks gym in London.
Ahmed joined Goodyear in Portsmouth for Class A action at 57kg, but was disappointed unanimously by Hooks' experienced Francie McDonagh.
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