STRATFORD & District Boxing Academy’s Cieran Hammadi can hold his head high with pride after reaching the quarter-finals of the Junior Novice National Championships – only his fifth bout.
Cieran, who turned 15 on November 24, defeated Adeeb Zulfiqar from Blackburn with Darwen ABC on a split decision to reach the quarter-finals the following week against Dylan Fail of Northumberland FIre and Rescue ABC.
Cieran, recently victorious in the Junior Novice Midlands Final, lost on a points decision but his club head coach Mat Pickering said: “Cieran on both occasions boxed out of his skin, he did everything I asked of him. In the quarter-finals he couldn’t have done any more.
“It was Fail’s time. Take nothing away from him, he was a tricky southpaw opponent who knew how to conduct himself around the ring.
“Everyone at the Boxing Academy is proud of Cieran’s achievements, entering the championships on the minimum number of bouts required. We look forward to seeing his more experienced performances in next year’s championships.”
