Ace Rafferty marches on

Boxer Jack Rafferty qualified for ABA quarter final..

SHAW-based boxing prospect Jack Rafferty continued his march towards the latter stages of the senior elite ABA Championships with another impressive victory.

In a 69kg category national pre-quarter-final stage bout at the Doncaster Dome, Rafferty (21) defeated Lamin Conteh from the widely-renowned Islington Amateur Boxing Club in London.

Rafferty's delighted trainer Ben Lancaster said: "This was a good, hard fight for Jack.

"His opponent was very strong so Jack had to be right on his game.

"Jack won each of the three rounds, but he had to work really hard for it.

"In the end we secured a unanimous points decision victory, and it was well deserved.

"After the fight someone from Conteh's camp came over and said that was the hardest he'd ever been punched."

Rafferty (pictured) now moves into the national quarter-final stage proper, on Saturday week in Rotherham.

Asked to rate his chances of going all the way in the tournament, Lancaster added: "Jack's got every chance now, especially if he maintains his current level of performance.

"It's going to be tough from here on in, though, as the seeded lads come into the reckoning from this next stage."