County boys are Midland boxing champs

Shropshire boxing is celebrating a triple crown – thanks to three Midlands champions.

Ludlow ABC's Craig Morris, Wellington Boxing Academy's Aroon Fiaz and Lenny Evans, of Shrewsbury ABC ran out victors in their Championships for Young People regional finals in Leicestershire on Saturday.

And it means the trio have booked their place in national quarter finals, which are expected to be staged in Nottingham this Saturday.

Morris marched to the sixth title of his career – which only began in 2008 – by out-pointing Aston Police's Jack Williams in class C of the 71-75kgs category.

Athletic Williams, himself a multiple Midlands champion, proved a tough opponent but Morris impressed in the first three rounds to open up a 10-6 lead, before soaking up the pressure in the last of the four two minute sessions to run out a 13-11 winner.

"Craig was instructed to box at distance and not get involved with Williams whose explosive pace was a threat," said Duncan Morris, Craig's father and coach.

"He did exactly that and out-boxed Williams."

Fiaz brought Wellington Boxing Academy their first title — by the narrowest possible margin.

Kettering-based opponent Jed Wilson enjoyed the better of the first round of the 67-71kgs clash before Fiaz picked up the pace and got through with a string of long ranged shots in the second and third.

Both fighters were increasingly sloppy in the final round, although Fiaz connected with impressive shots to cause Wilson's left eye to swell and bruise.

The final scores were tied at 16-16, before Fiaz got the nod on countback.

Evans completed the Shropshire treble with a 15-11 victory over Liam Shiels of the Birmingham-based Nechells club at 52-54kgs.

"Lenny took the centre of the ring and for every punch Shiels threw, he came back with two," said Shrewsbury ABC coach Dave Robb.

Shrewsbury's other Midland final representative Dillon Robb – boxing at 57-60kgs – narrowly failed to make it a Shropshire four-timer as he was edged out 21-20 by Stoke YMCA's Simon Doherty.

"Dillon didn't box to the best of his ability," added coach Robb.

"He left one of his worst performances to the Midlands final but he will put it right in the gym and be a better boxer for it.

"We must remember he has only had 14 contests and has already reached a Midlands final."

By JAMES GARRISON