Teenage hopeful Brendan Howes remains on course for National Junior Boxing Championship glory after climbing off his sickbed to be crowned Midland Counties champion.
Howes, one of Shrewsbury & Severnside ABC’s brightest talents, had spent most of the week in bed suffering from flu but dug deep to gain a revenge win against Nathan D’Castro of Lincoln’s Bracebridge ABC.
Sunday’s win at Coventry, secured by the narrowest of margins, means Howes is Midland Counties champ in the 75-80kg class.
The 16-year-old will now take his place in the last eight nationally with his road towards further success taking him north to take on the Yorkshire champion later this month.
Colin Hough, who trains Howes at Severnside’s Smithfield Road HQ, admitted he was a little worried ahead of last weekend’s contest given that the young boxer had been ill.
His fears looked to be well founded in a poor opening round but Howes then came good, delivering an excellent display in the third and final round to win 12-11 on points.
It was sweet revenge for Howes who had lost to D’Castro at a Severnside show at the Lord Hill Hotel in November.
“Brendan had the flu all week but I got hold of him on Thursday and then gave him two more one-hour sessions on Friday to get him going again,” said Hough.
“This was always gong to be a tough fight for him but there was no bigger motivation than becoming Midland Counties champion against a lad who has beaten him before.
“Brendan had an exceptional final round, scoring well with jabs and combinations. It was very close in the end and nerve-wracking but it’s a great win for him and he’s now in the last eight in the country.”