WORCESTER City Amateur Boxing Club took five fighters to the West Midlands Junior and Senior Development Championships at Donnington.

Junior Dennis Smith beat Liam Ganner, of William Perry ABC, in his group’s semi-final bout.

It was the second meeting between the pair with the first going to Smith via stoppage.

The latest contest went the distance as Smith displayed the better boxing skills to claim a split decision and a final place against Eddy Dyer.

Although the Worcester corner were convinced he had pressured Dyer enough, the Rectory ABC boy claimed the regional title.

Hashim Ali entered the ring after a 12-month lay-off against Lee Beresford, also of Rectory ABC.

Ali held back in the first, which gave Beresford the advantage.

He found his range in the second and third rounds, firing out sharp punches while claiming the centre of the ring.

Again, the Worcester coaches thought their boxer had just done enough but Beresford was given the bout by the narrowest of margins.

A straight final spot for George Francis saw him up against a strong Carl Darby, of Lions ABC.

In his first time in a Worcester vest, Francis was put on the back foot from the off but kept his rhythm and boxed well with fast left-right combinations.

The movement in and out of range from Francis was good but the judges returned the verdict in favour of the aggressive Darby by split decision.

Aamir Manir faced Dan Kiernan and the opening round was even.

During the second, a heavy right hand from the Worcester lad forced the referee to give Kiernan a standing count.

Once the action resumed, the Priory Park boxer stayed on the back foot and picked up the points to secure victory by way of a unanimous decision.

Senior Dan Davis, back in the ring after a four-year lay-off, came up against the tall Lee Edensor, of Rugeley ABC, in the semi-finals.

Good defensive work from Davis saw him slip and counter-punch to the body well.

The body punching slowed Edensor down, allowing Davis to pick up the points and a final spot via a unanimous decision.

He was then up against a strong fighter in Kai Morris, of Salopian ABC.

Morris had no reverse gear and pursued Davis around the ring, throwing two punch combinations throughout the contest.

Toe-to-toe action from both saw Morris pick up the title with his relentless all-out approach.