Boxing: Aeron Maddocks puts in gritty performance in North West Region Schoolboy Boxing Championships

Head coach Steven Connellan, North West champ Adam Earnshaw, North West finalist Aeron Maddocks and Hamer coach Frank Maddocks

Having dispatched Luke Pedley of Fit-2-XL Boxing Club by unanimous decision in the semi-final of the North West Region Schoolboy Boxing Championships on Friday (28 April), Aeron Maddocks, of Hamer Boxing Club, was beaten by the reigning national champion, Danny Robb of Sharpstyle Boxing Club, in the final on Saturday.

In the first round Maddocks showed that he wasn't overawed by Robb's reputation when he began to take the fight to the champion.

Robb used a very fast one-two punch combination that landed to the face of the Hamer boxer but Maddocks answered him with swift punches of his own.

The round continued with Maddocks trying to force the pace and it wasn't long before Robb realised that he was in a competitive bout and that the contest wasn't a forgone conclusion for him.

In the second round Robb came out with more intent and he immediately took the fight to Maddocks continually catching the Hamer boxer to the head. It looked as though Robb was about to step away with the contest but Maddocks showed real grit and determination to continue to force the action and he began to match Robb with connecting punches of his own.

In the third and final round Robb's class began to show when he landed swift counter-punches as Maddocks stepped into range. The Hamer boxer continued to try and force the fight in what was a fantastic display of boxing from both boxers, but in the end the more experienced boxer showed why he was the reigning national champion and was awarded the victory by unanimous decision.

Hamer head coach Steven Connellan said: "Aeron will gain nothing but great experience by boxing and competing against a national champion who knew he was in a contest."