Role-model Stubbs seals ABA hat-trick

BOXING CLEVER: Chadderton boxer Tom Stubbs has won his third straight title.

BOXING: NORTHSIDE ABC's Thomas Stubbs became a hat-trick hero when he bagged his third straight ABA title.

Despite coming down with a nasty bout of tonsillitis on the day of the show at York Hall, Bethnal Green, the 20-year-old still saw off Ben Fowl 7-3 in the 48kg section of the Louvolite elite national championship finals.

A close first round, in which 4ft 9in Fowl, of Hertfordshire, came forward a lot more than usual, finished 2-2.

Chadderton lad Stubbs stepped up a gear in the second and some smart shots earned him a 5-3 lead at the bell.

And he was at full pelt in the third, capping a fine performance with a 7-3 victory.

Stubbs said: "I'm delighted to get my third ABA title in a row, it's a big achievement for me and an important part of my progress.

"Obviously it wasn't ideal getting tonsillitis on the morning of the fight.

“I could feel it coming on but had to put it out of my mind.

“I was determined to put that to one side and get on with the job because you can’t let these things faze you.”

His coach at Northside, Joe Pennington, feels Stubbs can now be considered a role model by the club's younger members.

Pennington said: "This is now the biggest thing to happen to the gym.

“Thomas has been with us since the age of 10.

“The fact he comes in wearing his England tracksuit shows the people around him what the rewards are if you work hard.

Stubbs will be representing his country at the European senior championships in Moscow at the end of June.

The long-standing dream of competing at the 2012 Olympics in London remains on course - but the goalposts have shifted.

Pennington explained: "Thomas is 5ft 10in at the moment but he looks to me as if he's going on a growing spurt.

“Getting his weight down has never been easy before a fight either.

"It's my understanding that there won't be a 48kg category at the Olympics, so Thomas will have to compete in the 51kg.

"There's a lot of competition but he's shown what he can do and this lad can make it, without a doubt."