Wellington retain interest in Development

Saqub Shafiq has yet to box in the competition and has claimed a West Midlands title through a walk over, writes Craig Birch.

The tournament now moves away from the county, after Donnington Boxing Club hosted all of the regional rounds.

It culminated with the area deciders at their home venue of the Donnington Sports & Social Club on Turreff Avenue, Telford, last Sunday.

They entered Michael Porter from their ranks at 64kg in the seniors, for boxers aged 17 and upwards and divided in two classes by experience and weights.

Class A is for 2-10 bouts and Class B 11-20 contests with Porter, who had already claimed two victories, in the former section.

The light welterweight tackled Cole Johnson, from Orme in Newcastle-under-Lyme, for a place in the national stages.

Porter paid the price for coming second best in the first round, as the unbeaten Johnson commanded the centre of the ring.

Under orders from coach Tristan Davies to force his opponent onto the backfoot, Porter worked his way back into the bout.

Rounds two and three saw him become the aggressor, as the two looked to score shots at close range. At the final bell, Johnson's hand was raised on a points split decision.

Nathan McFarlane, from Len Woodhall's Community Club in Madeley, Telford, went down fighting in Class B at 64kg.

McFarlane engaged with Clayton Bricknell, from the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, over what proved to be a bruising battle.

The end was nigh in the second when Bricknell loaded up a three-punch combination of hooks that landed flush on McFarlane, whose chin was dangerously in the air.

Down he went to the canvas and, while still dazed, he gamely climbed back to his feet while hurt. Bricknell resumed his onslaught and in went the towel from McFarlane's corner.

Wellington Boxing Academy's Shafiq is still involved in the juniors, all featuring entrants of between two to 10 bouts of experience, separated into two age ranges by weight.