Attleborough Boxing Club fighter Finn Harris defeats Hornets' Chaz Butters to win national title
Attleborough Boxing Club have been celebrating one of their own being crowned a national champion.
Fifteen-year-old Finn Harris took on Manor Boxing Club’s Sam Sampson in the semi-finals of the England Boxing National Junior Championships Open Male Under-54kg weight class in Wigan on Saturday and advanced through thanks to a 3-2 split decision victory.
That set up a meeting with Hornets’ Chaz Butters for the title and on this occasion it was more of a one-sided affair as Harris beat his opponent – himself a former national champion – by a unanimous decision.
Attleborough head coach Jon Dennis said: “It’s been a long journey for Finn and it hasn’t always been easy. He has lost a little bit of confidence at times and not had winning streaks, but he’s stuck at it and got stronger and stronger.
“The easiest thing in the world to do is walk away and quit, but that isn’t Finn. He boxed really well against a lad who has had twice as many bouts as him and has also been a national champion.
“The other kid was the favourite on paper but Finn out-boxed him. We’re really proud of his hard work, he deserves it.”
The victory has seen Harris earn himself a place on England Boxing’s Performance Pathway, with a Tri Nations event set to take place in Scotland this summer.
Meanwhile, the club’s Thomas Willett pushed his highly experienced opponent all the way in the semi-finals of the Junior Open Male Under-60kg. Willett, 14, eventually lost to a unanimous decision against Mikeys’ John Boy Hodgkins, but the experience will hold him in good stead.
“The lad Thomas was fighting has had more stoppages than Thomas has had bouts,” added Dennis.
“He took him all the way to points and that is a win in itself. He can hold his head up and high and be proud of how he performed.
“You can’t buy experience, you’ve have to go and get it and that’s what he’s done.”