Newell looks for place in final

ROYTON schoolboy boxer John Newell has the fight of his life on Sunday when he bids to win a place in the final of the junior novice ABA’s.

The 15 year old has already progressed through four rounds to reach the semi-finals which are being staged at Liverpool’s Adelphi Hotel.

“John has stopped three of his four opponents and it has been a fantastic learning curve for him,” explained father Tony.

In the quarter-finals, John stopped Adam Bell, from Cleator Moor, County Durham, after forcing the North East lad to take two standing counts in the second round.

John, who stands at 6ft 2in and already weighs 11 stone, will be boxing in the 70-kilo class as he looks like being an eventual light-heavyweight.

This is not the first success John has savoured as last year he reached the final of the national schoolboy championships.

A North Chadderton School pupil, John initially started boxing at Oldham Boys Club at the age of 12.

But when that group folded he joined Ancoats Amateur Boxing Club, which is otherwise known as Shannon’s Gym ,where he is coached by Sean Rafferty who helped Michael Brodie on the road to the top in the sport.

John’s dream is to become a professional boxer but he also has eyes on success as an amateur and a place at the 2012 Olympic Games is not out of the question.

“John is a smashing lad who has a lot of potential and we are hoping he can reach the top, though he only recently celebrated his 15th birthday so there is obviously a long way to go,” explained Rafferty.

It is a measure of John’s commitment to boxing that he trains three nights each week and also on a Sunday.

He is boxing clever with regards to the future as he hopes to further his education at Loughborough University where he would also hone his boxing skills at the academic institution which is renowned for its sporting excellence.