WORCESTER City Amateur Boxing Club had three fighters in the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs Championships Midland finals in Coventry.

But the only Worcester boxer remaining is lightweight Ameen Khan, who had a walkover to the national quarter-finals.

His opponent pulled out at the last minute with a damaged hand.

City light welterweight Owen Cooper met southpaw Brad Bethall, of Leicester’s Braunstone ABC.

Cooper started with his usual all-action approach and took the first round with fast jabs and solid rights.

Bethall came out in the second totally rejuvenated, using great movement and picking off his opponent with accurate right jabs.

Cooper slowed and Bethall capitalised to pick up points with fast punches.

At the final bell, Bethall won by a split decision and a below-par Cooper had no complaints about the verdict.

Worcester light middleweight Grant Attwood faced Connor Fanning, of Birmingham’s Hall Green, for the second time.

Their first encounter was a battle with Fanning just shading the result on points.

A determined Attwood went straight after his opponent from the first bell.

The taller Fanning was not going to be dictated to and replied with fast two-punch combinations.

Attwood forced the issue, hurting his rival several times with damaging left hooks, but he struggled to take full control.

Gifted boxer Fanning was extremely tough and took some of the hardest punches Attwood had delivered in his 46-bout career.

There were no signs of distress from the poker-faced Hall Green boxer, who returned the punches and more.

After a hard-fought contest, Fanning won with a unanimous points margin.