Local boxing champ is third best in country

North West regional boxing champion Harrison Wright came third in the National School’s Championships and he can’t wait to be back in the ring.

Harrison, who attends Whitworth Community High School, started his boxing career six years ago at Hamer Boxing Club in Rochdale, and switched to Littleborough Boxing Club a couple of years ago.

He is now coached by Mark Oldham, whom he said had given him confidence and he is now looking forward to the next national competition in September.

Harrison, 13, from Rochdale, said: “I joined boxing initially just for fitness and to lose a bit of weight. I found I liked it a bit more and wanted to start fighting.

“At Hamer, I had two fights, and I won both, then I moved to Littleborough because of the coach.

“I won the North West Region Championship belt in Preston, after getting through the pre-quarters, quarters, semi-final and final.

“When I won that final, I was entered for the Nationals. I won my quarter-final in Bolton and I got through to the semi-final in Newcastle when I was against Regan Whey. He is taller than me; I am 5ft 8ins.

“He was also heavier than me, I didn’t realise I had lost some weight and I weighed in at just under 59kg - the category is up to 63kg, Regan was almost top weight.

“He was stronger, I was quicker but he had a lot of power.”

They went the full three rounds of 90 minutes each.

Harrison said: “In the first round, I feel he caught me with a few good shots, in the second I feel I came out stronger, then in the third I boxed his head off, but I took a knock when his head guard hit my inside arm, it was a good job that happened in the third round and not the first.”

Regan, from Rayne, Essex, went on to win the title in the final.

Harrison admitted his mum Danielle sometimes struggles with the sport when he takes a knock, but he said she was ‘getting used to it’ and he is looking forward to his next hit at the nationals in September.

As well as boxing, Harrison is a keen centre back footballer and was a member of the Pennine Juniors Black team who this year achieved the treble, The Lancashire Cup, the League and the North Bury League Under 13 Premiership titles.

With his step-dad footballing coach Daniel Bourdon, he has now joined a new Bury football team, who will be playing at the Gigg Lane ground.