PHOENIX Fire Boxing Club will send four fighters to the England Youth Championships finals later at Rotherham later this month.

Imad Nasseb, Sam Watson, Courtney Swanton and Jamie Aramayo have each progressed from a regional qualifier in their respective weight categories.

“To have four boxers reach the quarter finals of a national competition is a great achievement,” said Damian Redpath, Phoenix’s head of performance.

“It shows the improvements we’ve made to boxers train are paying dividend.”

Two other Phoenix members, John Taylor and Casey Brown, were runner-up and semi-finalist at the north west qualifier in Salford.

Redpath added: “All of our boxers did extremely well, performing to a high level regardless of their bout’s final outcome.”

Nasseb, a flyweight from Great Sankey, won a split points decision in the 52kg category against Anthony Hanna (Rotunda ABC).

The 17-year-old surprised his opponent, an England junior and schoolboy international, by switching between boxing on the front and back foot on his way to winning a decisive third round.

Two Phoenix boxers faced each other in the 56kg bantamweight final.

Woolston’s Watson edged Taylor, from Daresbury, after judges awarded him victory at the end of a compelling final.

Meanwhile Swanton, in the female 51kg flyweight class, and 81kg light heavyweight Aramayo were both handed a bye after they were unopposed..

Orford-based Brown (69kg welterweight) bowed out at the semi-final stage to eventual champion Joe Challinor (Sefton ABC) on a split decision after a close contest.

Both boxers demonstrated solid defence, consistently avoiding clean scoring hits throughout.

The Phoenix contingent take part in the quarter finals at the Magna Centre tomorrow week, February 12, from 1pm.

Semi finals and the final follow on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Before then, Phoenix host their latest club event tomorrow, Friday, at Eagle Sports & Social Club in Great Sankey.

The card features 15 bouts, all of them featuring Phoenix or Warrington ABC athletes, from 7.45pm.

Admission is £10 for adults, while concessions watch for £5.