Brendan Howes hopes it will be third time lucky when he takes on Yorkshire’s Matt Neilson in the quarter-finals of the National Junior Boxing Championships this weekend.
Howes, from Shrewsbury & Severnside ABC, has twice lost narrowly to the Doncaster puncher and will be targeting revenge when they clash in the 75-80kg class at Wakefield on Saturday.
Howes, of Mount Pleasant, was recently crowned Midland Counties champion and has been working hard in preparation for his big fight with Severnside trainer Colin Hough.
“There’s no greater motivation for Brendan than beating a lad he’s narrowly lost to twice,” said Hough.
“Neilson’s a tall lad, about six foot four, so Brendan’s got to find a way in but he’s quite capable of beating him on the day.”
Meanwhile, Hough has been clocking up the miles taking boxers to shows in Morecambe and to Birmingham twice.
Jamie Swancote was the solitary Severnside winner, overcoming Solihull ABC’s Mark Hanigan at Digbeth on points.
Bradley Smith was unfortunate to see a very close decision go against him at Morecambe in favour of national Golden Gloves champion Jack Wray of Lancaster Boys.
And Jack Roberts could also count himself unlucky to see the verdict to against him after answering a late call to face Wednesbury ABC’s Brad Heeley at Perry Barr.