WARRINGTON boxing prospect Lee Ward will compete in the Junior ABA British finals with confidence next month.

The talented Bridge Foot Police Amateur Boxing Club 17-year-old will have a fight-off with the Scottish and Welsh champions on a date yet to be confirmed after winning the English junior ABA title for the second year running.

Club officials believe Ward, who won the under 50kg crown, is the first from Warrington to win a Junior ABA title two years on the trot.

Derek Groarke, who, along with his wife Amanda, coaches Ward, said they were proud of the pugilist's success.

And he gave his thoughts on why Ward has dominated the competition for the past two years.

"He's got natural ability and he has it inside of him to want to be the champion," said Groarke.

"Nothing fazes him and he's very level headed."

Ward defeated determined Danny Lawler, of Birmingham Police ABC, on points to win the English title at Crystal Palace in London.

Lawler was last season's champion in the weight division below Ward and had a points win over the Warrington fighter under his belt from last year.

Both men fought a tight contest that went down to the wire over four rounds.

* Bridge Foot's Danny Hodge (95kg), Rhys Yates (66kg) and Michael Yuile (60kg) will fight in the North West Counties Golden Belt Finals at Everton Park Sports Centre in Liverpool on Saturday.

Yates and Yuile were both crowned West Lancashire and Cheshire Golden Belt title winners on Saturday.

* Amanda Groarke returned from Istanbul on Monday after spending seven days as a coach with the England women's boxing squad in Turkey.