Junior ABA champs eye Three Nations

Black Country teenagers Josh Stokes and Dale Doody hope England honours will follow their success in the junior ABA championships.

Both were crowned champions in Rochester, Kent, at the weekend and that should clinch their places in the Three Nations tournament next month that brings together the best from England, Scotland and Wales.

Stokes, who boxes for Wodensborough Amateur Boxing Club, triumphed in Class 6 at 67kgs despite an injury to his right hand and having nowhere to train.

His club's gym is based at Wodensborough School has been closed for refurbishment and Stokes and his clubmates have had to travel to Wolverhampton ABC to train.

Tall, rangy and heavy handed, Stokes faced Andrew Doe, from Tommy's ABC in Reading, in the final and, after the opening round, the boxing scaffolder was trailing 6-3.

The fight turned his way in the second round, when a right hand shook Doe and led to a standing eight count.

Doe held desperately to survive Stokes's follow-up attacks and was handed a warning by the referee.

But Stokes was still behind 7-6 going into the last round, before taking charge. His heavy punches from both hands had Doe grabbing again and he was disqualified.

Stokes has won all eight bouts this season and coach Steve O'Rourke said: "Josh was the underdog throughout the championships and has come through.

"He's been rewarded for all his dedication this season."

Doody needed a terrific last-round onslaught to triumph in Class 6 at 48kgs.

Jake Coleman, of Tyldesley Centurions BC, had used his height and reach advantages to box his way into a 7-6 lead after three rounds and the instructions from Doody's coaches Stuart Grainger and Vince Bailey were to go for broke.

But Doody, who works for a skip hire company in West Bromwich, responded by tearing into Coleman with two-fisted attacks. He blazed away with looping right hands over the top and left hooks to win the session 6-1 and run out a winner by four points.

Doody has won all five bouts this season and Wednesbury ABC matchmaker Anthony Tobin said: "Dale is improving all the time. He's put in so much work this season and so have the coaches and now he has his reward.

"Coleman was tall and rangy, but Dale is strong for his weight and that's what got him through in the end."

Wodensborough ABC now stage a show on Friday night at Charlemont Bowling Club in West Bromwich.

The card features the ring return of Ricky O'Rourke after four years away. O'Rourke, a former National Schoolboy champion now aged 21, tops the bill in a featherweight fight.

Olly Smith, Brad Rourke, Jake McHale and Lorenzo Consiglio are other Wodensborough boxers matched on the show.

By Matt Bozeat