Boxing In Britain: Impact ABC Get National Champion Victory

Impact ABC trainer Andy Sedgmore has hailed the performance of Liam Berrisford after he was crowned National Junior Novice School Boy Champion in Liverpool.

The 15 year old from Meir Park took the title after a points victory over Stevenage ABC's Levi Raymond in the 57-60 kilo category.

“The dedication Liam has put in has been rewarded, and the whole gym is buzzing at the point. Raymond was a very tricky customer who was a natural switch-hitter, but the way Liam changed his tactics and coped with him was exceptional,” he said.

Sedgmore has also refused to rule out competing for a spot in the 2012 Olympics, saying, “Never say never, I think we went into the competition looking to get beyond the Midlands level, and then see where we went from there.”

Berrisford, who had only had three bouts before the competition, decided to keep on boxing when some of his friends stopped, and is delighted to reap the rewards.

“I have really concentrated and put my boxing first since I joined Impact, and the trainers have been great. A lot of my friends started boxing when I did, but I carried it on and to be a National Champion is a great feeling,” he said.

It proved to be a double celebration for the Fenton based gym, with Marcus Ladoux also winning the Midlands Semi Final in Leicester, he will now compete in the Midlands Counties Senior Novice Final next Sunday.