Dale Doody gets to ABA Novice final

Wednesbury ABC's Dale Doody got a spot in the ABA Novice national championship final as an 18th birthday present after a win in the semi-finals at the weekend.

The teenage light flyweight, who turned 18 yesterday, is the Black Country's last hope of an ABA Novice title after beating Gary Reeve 9-4, nearly eight years his senior, on points.

But there was heartbreak for Priory Park ABC duo Josh Aston – cousin of pro Ryan – and Vakar Hussain at the Everton Park Sports Centre in Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

Both lost hotly-disputed points calls in Class A – boxers who have had 10 bouts or under – to bow out in the last four.

There was just a point in bantamweight Aston's 23-22 defeat to South Durham ABC's Matthew Temby, while featherweight Hussain lost a 'count back'- punches thrown - to Hetton ABC's Nathan Milburn.

So it's left to Doody in Class B – boxers who have had 20 bouts or under – to represent the Black Country in the 48kg final against Down End ABC's Kane Smart on Saturday afternoon.

Doody should still be relatively fresh at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth, as Saturday was his first fight in the tournament after a series of 'walk overs' – no opponent to box.