Boxing ace Danny in search of first national title

One of the district’s brightest young boxing stars is on the rise again after reaching his first national final.

Billingshurst teenager Danny Kirkland will take to the ring again this Friday in Derbyshire with his eyes firmly fixed on winning the National Amateur Boxing Association Championships.

“I’m not sure who I’m fighting but to be honest that doesn’t bother me. You can only box the person in front of you,” said the big-hitting 17-year-old southpaw.

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“But I do know he’s going to be good because he’s made the final so I know I’ll have to box my best to win it.”

For Danny, reaching one of the two major amateur finals is especially sweet after disappointment in the other national competition left him needing some time out.

A highly controversial disqualification in the early rounds for apparent punching when the referee had called break saw him take a year out.

“It was a harsh decision and it really knocked me back so I decided to take a year out,” Danny said. “But all that’s in the past now, I’ve got back up from that and since coming back have won all my fights so far.”

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Danny, a member of Horsham Amateur Boxing Club since the age of 11, now boxes for Hove.

Having boxed his way into the national semi-finals, Danny received a bye when his opponent failed to turn up for the fight.

Should he win on Friday it will easily be the biggest win of his career and could lead to fulfilling his next big ambition, boxing for England.