There was joy and despair for west London boxers at the National Youth Championships over the weekend.
They used to be known as the Junior ABA Championships, but for Zak Chelli, they will be forever remembered as a bad day at the office for officialdom.
The 17-year-old from Fulham toppled the unbeaten Jimmy Smith to get to the final in Ferryhill for the second year running.
He then claimed to be up against it from the first bell against Ben Whittaker in the 75kgs category.
The West Midlands fighter went on to win a controversial split decision that left Chelli shattered.
“His dad, Ben’s trainer came up to me after and said: ‘sorry Zak, I thought my son lost too please stay friends’,” explained Chelli.
“i refused to have my picture taken with the silver medal, I was robbed and I wasn't having it. I asked Ben a re-match for next week at Times ABC show, and he refused.”
But there was no stopping Daniel Dubois in the very big boys category.
The 6ft 6ins member of Dale Youth ABC in North Kensington won for the second year running in the 91kgs division - but at least this time he had to fight.
Last year’s victory was a walkover. There are few junior fighters at this weight, and fewer still wanting to face the west Londoner.
This time he was up against former Dale team-mate Naylor Ball, who now fights for Guildford. Dubois stopped his opponent in the third round.
The second heartbreak in county Durham was inflicted on junior England international Danny Barrett.
The 69kg boxer, and member of Hooks ABC in Park Royal, appeared to have won rounds one and two, but a shot to the chin from Bradford policemen Mohammed Akbar in the third arrested any winning tilt at a second west London title dead in its tracks.
