YOUNG boxer John Doran has made a great start to the year.

The Harwich ABC 12-year-old is in pursuit of a national title after county success.

Boxing at Harlow, Doran faced Kieran Wright, from Chadwell St Mary ABC, in an under 34kg, class one Essex Schoolboy final.

With a high guard evident, Doran deflected a number of Wright’s blows on his gloves and arms, while responding with neat counter punches of his own.

Several concerted bursts of pressure in each of the three one-and-a-half-minute rounds racked up the points and saw Doran home on a 16-8 score.

Harwich ABC head coach Martin Webb said: “John is now unbeaten in all of his seven contests to date and clearly has the potential to go far in these championships.”

Juniors Tommie Smith and Patrick Allen Cripps gave spirited performances in the Essex Metropolitan Schoolboy Novice Championships, before dropping 9-15 and 7-11 points decisions in their respective finals.