LAUNCESTON Amateur Boxing Club’s Luther Clayton was crowned national champion at the Alliance Junior Novice Finals in London on Sunday.

Clayton, 15, took on Callum Howell (also 15) from the Eltham and District Club at Chingsford Assembly Hall in what was a three-round (two minutes per round) contest in the under 50kg category.

From the opening bell, the Launceston boxer forced the pace, getting up close and unleashing solid body shots and straight rights on the aggressive southpaw, who battled back hard, throwing lots of leather.

Clayton’s defence was sound and he slipped and rolled under the punches maintaining a relentless pace, working the head and body to the final bell. Luther was crowned national champion with a well-earned points victory.

Launceston Amateur Boxing club now boasts two current national champions this year following on from Callum Charnock (15) being crowned the National Schools Champion in February.

Brandon Charnock took a last minute call-up to compete on the Barnstaple ABC show on Saturday where he faced Jack Taylor (14) from Carl’s Boxing Stable in Plymouth in a three-round (90 seconds per round) contest.

Taylor battled hard, trying to land big right hands and left hooks but Charnock’s skills kept his chin out of trouble connecting with solid straight rights and hooks of his own. The final bell saw Charnock have his hand raised as the winner with a unanimous points decision.

All the Launceston boxers will be out in action on their home show on Saturday, December 2, at the White Hart Hotel in Launceston.