Boxer turns down England call-up

JASON Brooker has turned down an England call-up to concentrate on his bid for national boxing glory.

The teenage West Hill fighter was selected to box for his country at youth level against Ireland on November 25 but will instead take on Wales' Joe Gage in the semi-finals of the NACYP Championships in Bristol two days later.

"It's just one of those things," said West Hill coach Dave Bishop. "I think it's more important he fights in the NACYPs. It's not going to jeopardise future (England) selections and I would have thought there's others in the same position."

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In a scenario that rather makes a mockery of the competition, the Hillcrest Language College pupil has still not had to fight to get this far in the class A, under-48 kilo category. He was due to take on Earlsfield's Jay Kelly in the quarters at Lordswood on Saturday but his opponent apparently became tangled up in the partial closure of the M25 and didn't make it to the Kent venue. Bishop was hoping to arrange a bout against Sonny Whiting in Chatham this weekend.

One prospect who did fight at Lordswood, however, was Bruce Lawson. The class A, under-60 kilo competitor's dreams of national glory were cruelly struck down, though, by a mysterious sudden loss of energy after winning the first round. Despite battling on gamely, he went down to a unanimous points decision against Jack Maroney of Fisher, an opponent he beat giving away four kilos two years ago.

Shaun Attrell was the other West Hill representative to exit at the quarter-final stage but "gave a good account of himself" in succumbing to a majority call against last year's champion Dean Burrell at class B, under-51 kilo level.

Ben White (class B, under-46 kilos) was unanimously beaten by a formidable opponent at the same stage of the Novice Cadets' Championship.

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