Wellington's new-boy has a great impact
Shabaz Masoud returned to club competition boxing with a bang after beating one of Shropshire's finest in the West Midlands final.
Masoud has now advanced past the regional stages of the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs Championships,
He seized the initiative at 56kg in the most senior section of the tournament, Class D, which is for fighters born in 1995-97.
The 20-year-old, now representing Wellington Boxing Academy, ousted Donnington's Liam Davies on a points split decision last weekend.
Davies, England Elite finalist this year and national Schools champion in 2010, bowed out of a competition where he was a favourite.
It was the latter's 93rd unpaid contest and he's knocking on the door of England contention, having been invited to two training camps in successive weeks.
Davies had previously beaten Ammar Khan, from Hall Green in Birmingham, unanimously to set up the area decider.
Stoke-based Masoud hadn't boxed in four years, due to university, before his debut for Wellington earlier in the NABGCs. He defeated David Seymour, from Capitol in Coventry, unanimously.
It was his first senior bout, too, but he did hold a victory over Davies from the junior ranks, where he represented clubs closer to home. He repeated the trick at the Triumph Social Club in Coventry.
Davies held the centre of the ring in the first round, with Masoud treated in the corner for swelling beneath his eye after a clash of heads.
Undeterred, Masoud continued to outwork a lethargic Davies in the second and looked to throw lots of punches from angles.
The result still hung in the balance come the third and last round, where Masoud tried to pile on the pressure as Davies fended him off with the jab.
The cards were called into play where Masoud's hand was raised, propelling him past the next phase and into the national semi-finals.
There's no match for him when the quarter-finals take place at the Newdigate Social Club in Bedworth on Sunday. He boxes at the Croxteth Leisure Centre in Liverpool the following Saturday.
Wellington club-mate Saqub Shafiq is also through to the last four after a unanimous victory over Corby Olympic's Casey Stevenson at 52kg in Class A (2001 born).
Shafiq found it easier going off the jab as Stevenson charged forward, slinging in right hands to wear down his adversary when the opportunity arose.
He took charge from the second and pegged Stevenson back, pushing him onto the ropes in the third as he looked for a big finish before prevailing on points.
Donnington's Bradley Thompson has another bye this weekend at 46kg in Class A, but Raheem Mohammed is scheduled for action at 50kg.
Mohammed, now attached to Len Woodhall's Community Club in Madeley, already holds a victory against Craig Hill, from Dudley's Lions Boxing Club, in NAGBC action so far.
