Akash Tuqir feels like a world beater at 52kg

The Shropshire flyweight brought back the belt and gold medal after four imperious wins at the week-long 25th annual European Youth Championships.

It was justice done for the determined teenager, who vowed nothing would stop him seizing the opportunity after losing four national club finals on points.

The 17-year-old, who fights out of Merridale Boxing Club in Wolverhampton under the tutelage of long-term coach Khalid Hussain, had to battle tooth and nail just to be a part of the trip.

He was initially only invited for assessments at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield and trained for two weeks to impress the international selectors, writes Craig Birch.

Box-offs were used to whittle four hopefuls down to two, before he got the nod as the one pick at the weight after a three-day camp ended trials at the EIS.

That decision proved to be a masterstroke as the tall southpaw excelled inside Kolobrzeg's Hala Millennium Arena, coming through a 16-fighter field to register England's only tournament medal.

Now Tuqir has set his sights on retaining his European standing when the competition resumes in March, with the World Championships next November his ultimate goal.

But first the slick operator wants to exorcise those demons at club level, with the England Youth Championships his first port of call come the end of January.

He said: "I've been written off so many times that it doesn't even bother me now. I'm the best in Europe and the fighters that have beaten me in the past are not.

"I'm over the moon with how things are going and I feel more comfortable in the ring than I ever have. There's nothing that I can't achieve if I perform.

"The big thing for me is that I feel I can work my opponents out now and adapt to the fight. That has come through these experiences.

"Every time I went out there in Poland, I feel I boxed better than on the previous occasion. I really matured over the week.

"I'm chuffed to do what I did for my country and I'm hungry to do it again in the Euros, have a shot at the worlds and prove I'm the one to beat at national level."

Tuqir made an instant splash on day two of the Euros with a stunning first round stoppage of Spain's Jose Brotons Quiles, winner of three major events this year.

The Spaniard sunk to his knees after a sweet uppercut landed below the ribs. He was counted out while still on the canvas.

He made sure of a medal on the Wednesday by downing Slovakia's Filip Meszaros unanimously on points, playing it safe against an opponent looking for the big bombs.

That set up Friday's semi-final clash with former world junior champion Willie Donoghue, where Tuqir was the underdog again.

He instead handed the Irishman a boxing lesson for three rounds, with fast feet and a tireless jab seeing him through unanimously.

It was much the same theme in Saturday's final, where Tuqir took the lead and then made sure of a victory with gusto in the third to become champion.

Want to see how golden boy Akash Tuqir got the job done for yourself? Watch the fight in full, it's the second one in this video above!

He said: "I knew I'd done it this time, sometimes you worry after what's happened before but there was no doubt in my mind.

"I went up the gears in the third because, at that level, you don't only have to win but you need to get the job done by a considerable margin.

"He was a southpaw, too, but I beat him to the punch and stuck to my game plan. He couldn't match my height and range.

"The only time any of my opponents even put their hand up at the final bell was the semi-final, which the Irish lads tend to do anyway!

"A lot of people didn't think I was going to win that, but I believed in my abilities and he couldn't get near me when I got my timings right.

"The Slovakian was a strong opponent and the Spanish kid was very highly-rated. They are all the best in their countries.

"I was buzzing to be on top of the podium. All of my hard work paid off in the end."