Merridale Boxing Club hitting new heights

Sahil Khan and Armaan Aziz claimed superb victories in the Hull Box Cup and Bristol Box Cup respectively.

And the success story didn’t end there for the Wolverhampton-based fight factory as Amir Ali, silver, and Khyal Chumber, bronze, also picked up medals in the Hull event.

Khan fought at 50kg in the juniors’ category, for boxers born in 2002, and went into the semi-finals after Freddie Barmby, from Trumpington in Cambridge, pulled out of their quarters clash.

He secured his place in the finals with an emphatic victory over Ireland’s Kieron McParton, taking just 40 seconds to dispose of his opponent by a first round TKO.

Khan was the underdog for the final against John McDonagh, an Irish international and two-time national champion, but an imperious performance saw him prevail unanimously on points.

Chumber featured at 44kg in the Schoolboys born 2003 ranks, and was beaten in the last four by Jude Ainsley, of High Fell in Gateshead, on a split decision.

Ali campaigned at 64kg in the Youth (1999) section and defeated Percy Taylor, from Exhall in Coventry, before going down to Dylan Patrick, of O’Dells in Birmingham.

Aziz, aged 13, struck gold in the Bristol Box Cup with a final victory over the only other entrant at the weight (46kg).

The King’s CE School student came out on top by unanimous decision against Finley James at the WISE campus at the SGS College.

Aziz was also a Midlands champion and national quarter-finalist in the recent England Schools Championship, and his latest success improved his record to 24 wins from 30 bouts, with next month’s East Midlands Box Cup likely to be his next port of call.

Coach Kadier Khan said: “Armaan has come on a lot and he’s doing well. He’s becoming strong and that can only continue as he gets older.

“He’s good technically and he’s coming into power, as well, so we are delighted with his progress. Styles makes fights and he’ll shine with the right tests.

“This is the first East Midlands Box Cup they are having and they are expecting quite a few entrants, so it makes sense to take Armaan there next.”