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Jimmy is tipped to make it to the top

29/ 1/2003

A JUNIOR boxer from Middleton has been tipped for the top after winning a regional competition.

James Barker, aged 11, beat Liverpool's Tony Lloyd on Merseyside with a unanimous points decision, to win the North West area final of the Schoolboy Championships (Class A 34kg under 12s).

He said: "I was really pleased with the win. I thought I did quite well and did enough to go through."

Pundits believe the Boarshaw-based youngster's potential could see him take the national title.

James' dad, Jimmy Barker, a boxing coach at Hopwood Hall College, said: "He has been made favourite to win the nationals, but he's not letting it go to his head. He's been training really hard, and did well to go to Liverpool and get a result. He's already done better than I ever did."

The win was made extra special by the fact he had not competed for 10 months. We just can't get boxers to take him on," Jimmy said. "I keep telling him we have to wait for big competitions because people don't want to come up against him. It is kind of an honour to be thought of in that way I suppose."

James, who trains with Oldham Boys ABC, Boarshaw Boys ABC and at Hopwood Hall, now faces Bridlington's Callum Grant in the quarter-finals on 1 March.

Jimmy said: "We don't really know too much about him, but I'm sure it will be a good match-up."

James thanked Ronney Heffron of Boarshaw Boys ABC for his help during training.