Newell closing in on final date

John Newell (right): Through to the last eight.

BOXING: RISING boxing star John Newell is two steps away from reaching an ABA schoolboy final.

The 16-year-old, who attends North Chadderton School, is through to the last eight after two eye-catching wins.

A member of the Ancoats Amateur Boxing Club, Newell enjoyed points victories over Andy Wilkinson, from Nelson, and Nathan Swift (Astley Bridge) in the first two rounds of the coveted competition.

Under the guidance of Sean Rafferty, he is now preparing for a shot at the quarter-finals, against an as-yet unnamed opponent, on Sunday, April 25.

Newell, who stands at 6ft 3in, is hoping to go one better than 12 months ago when he was a losing semi-finalist.

He recently impressed none other than world light-welterweight champion and Olympic Games silver medalist Amir Khan, who took time out at an amateur boxing show in Cheetham Hill to offer him encouragement.