ELITE HOPES
The East Midlands stage of the national Elite champs get underway on Sunday,
KINGS HEATH enter a pair of former junior stars in this year’s Elite championship, which gets underway in the East Midlands at Mansfield Civic Centre on Sunday (March 17).
Eithan James, a former European Junior silver medallist and Commonwealth Youth Games winner, goes in at 60kgs and up at 69kgs, Ben Vaughan is entered.
Eighteen-year-old James has yet to box as a senior and given his achievements, perhaps that’s unsurprising.
James has lost only three times since September, 2013 – all in finals – and coach James Conway said: “Eithan isn’t a puncher, but he’s slick and he can make you look silly. “He has that matador style. “They set themselves to hit him and he adjusts his feet, hits them and disappears.”
Vaughan, whose uncle Peter was a pro, has a rather different approach. The 19-year-old southpaw is an aggressive volume puncher who, Conway says “is never the first to break off an exchange.”
Vaughan was also a multi titled junior - twice winning Best Boxer at the Tri Nations - and has been given the all clear to enter the championships after being cut against Commonwealth Games rep Billy Le Poullain in Guernsey.
The Northampton club have also entered Jag Briar at 64kgs and babyfaced light-flyweight Kyle Mason, who earlier this season added NABC honours to his Junior ABA championship.
Kings Heath had two finalists last year, Liam Davies at 56kgs and Akash Tuqir at 60kgs, but both are missing this year.
Davies has turned pro, while Conway believes Tuqir, European Youth champion in 2015, may not box again.
Benn Norman is also missing from this year’s championship. Beaten by Connor Kelsall in last year’s final, Norman has decided to turn pro.
Far Cotton have entered Ben Fail, beaten by Jordan Reynolds in last year’s middleweight final, and Laura Stevens.
Stevens was beaten by Stephanie Wroe last year in the pick of the women’s final, having also lost to her in 2016, but put the disappointment behind her to beat Omarah Taylor in the Great Britain final.
“I want to win the Elites more than anything,” said the 29 year old.
“I have loads of trophies and medals at home – but I haven’t got a belt yet and there’s only one belt I really want.
“Last year was my most successful year. I got to the final of the Elites, boxed for England in the Tri Nations and won the Great Britain championship.
“I’m definitely feeling more confident than I was. I’ve had a lot of good sparring and learned a lot more since I got to the final last year.”