Shropshire trio bring home Junior titles

Davies' son Bradley Thompson made it second time lucky by going all of the way in the England Junior Championships, writes Craig Birch.

Telford girls Simran Kaur and Kara Murray also claimed belts on the day with coach Khalid Hussain, also from the town, in their corner.

The Juniors reached their climax at Birtley Boys Boxing Club in Gateshead with two divisions separated by age, one encompassing 2000-2001 born entrants and another solely for 2001.

Kaur made it two national crowns in succession stepping up from the Schools competition for this year, but was pushed for victory this time.

The undefeated prospect had previously made it eight straight wins, with an unanimous points victory over Scunthorpe's Demi Cox in the semi-finals.

The experienced Chloe Watson, from Birkenhead Venture in Merseyside, awaited her in the national final over three, three minute rounds at 48kg in the 2000-01 girls section.

Kaur made great use of her height advantage to work off a long jab and see out the distance, the cards needed to decide a winner. Her hand was raised on a split decision.

Murray, boxing her first bout in the tournament at the final hurdle, took less than a round to remove Elisha Mannouch, from Swale Gloves in Kent, at 60kg in the same age class.

A big back-hand to the face left Mannouch answering a standing count with just 30 seconds of the contest gone.

Murray went after hell for leather after her, trying to force the finish heading up to the minute mark, and forced the referee's intervention for a second and last time.

The duo's success made it four national titles in a year - counting Kaur's Schools accolade and Akash Tuqir's Youth glory - Hussain's fighters have claimed for Merridale in Wolverhampton.

Thompson's run brought home Donnington's first national honours since Davies took over the club from his late father Brian in 2011.

Among the spectators were Thompson's half-brother Liam Davies, himself having just claimed a West Midlands title in the England Elite Championships.

Davies moved into the national stages at 56kg by seeing off perennial rival David Seymour, from Todd Reeves' Alcester School of Boxing, unanimously.

Their meeting took place early on a D & A club show at the Paragon Hotel in Birmingham, so Davies could be present at Birtley to cheer his sibling on.

The 20-year-old will now go to the Croxteth Leisure Centre in Liverpool on Saturday. He'll be taking on George Brennan, from Jimmy Egan's gym in Manchester, in the pre-quarter finals.

Thompson made sure there would be no stopping him this time, after coming runner-up in the Schools last year.

He controlled his bout at 42kg in the 2001 only class against Khalil Osman, from Repton in London, to roll over him unanimously. It was his third Juniors victory.

Thompson, Kaur and Murray can now expect to box for England in the Junior Three Nations, with Wales the host nation over the next Bank Holiday weekend.