Schoolboy boxers move on after Midlands

Shropshire can boast two new Midlands amateur boxing champions – and the duo will now be chasing national titles.

Akash Tuqir of the Wellington Boxing Academy and Macauley Owen of Donnington ABC both claimed ABA Schoolboy titles with wins in Bedworth at the weekend.

Akash faced Usman Ali of Hall Green ABC for the 34kgs Midlands crown and boxed beautifully to record a 17-6 victory.

The youngster took the first round 7-2 and extended his lead to 10-3 in the second.

Ali came out throwing punches in the third session but Tuqir caught him on his way in and picked him off to win comfortably.

Coach Mo Fiaz said: "We are very happy with Akash.

"For me, that was the best I have seen Akash box ever since he has been at the club and I know he can go all the way and be crowned national ABA champion."

Owen endured a closer fight, eventually defeating Capitol ABC's Gur-Sher Vains 17-14 to take the 50kgs Midlands title.

Contest

The Donnington youngster was struggling with a bout of flu and that affected him as he started to tire later in the contest.

But Owen had done enough early on and held on to earn his passage to Manchester for the national pre quarter-finals this weekend.

Coach Tristan Davies said: "He did really well in the first and second rounds but he did start to die in the last round because of his flu.

"But he was in control by then. He's been training hard but he wasn't feeling right and can only improve on that performance."

Donnington's hopes of having two champions were foiled, as Jake Hughes lost 17-3 to Hakeem Hussain of Birmingham City in the 46kgs Midlands final.

Davies added: "It was closer than the scoreline would suggest."

Owen now boxes Sandygate ABC's Jerome Lawton on Sunday, while Tuqir faces Oldham ABC's Kamil Haider on Saturday.