DORCAN schoolboy Drew Hunt can look forward to the new boxing season with high hopes after a successful first season in a Walcot vest, writes Dave Veysey.

The 11-year-old will form part of a team of talented youngsters from the Swindon gym who will be competing in the National Schoolboys Championships next term. Drew has enjoyed his debut campaign, and is looking to improve for next season.

He said: “Walcot is a great club to train at with some very good coaches.

“They make us work hard in the gym so we are fit and ready when we actually box.

“I have learnt a lot this year, but I am going to train through the summer so I have improved some more when the new season starts in September.

“I’ll be taking part in the school championships, where I’ll have to face the best boxers at my age and weight from all over England.

“I’ll need to beat them all to win the title, which will not be easy. But I’m going to train hard and give it my best shot.”

Drew made his ring debut on the Walcot home show last November, where he beat local rival Lewis Roberts from Fitzpatricks’ Gym on points.

The pair met again in April on the Fitzpatricks show in Swindon in front of world title challenger George Groves, where another close bout saw Drew again receive a points decision.

In May, at the Avalon ABC show in Glastonbury, he suffered his only career defeat when losing a thriller to Jack Lintern from Shepton Mallett on a split points decision.

Lintern is an unbeaten fighter and the Swindonian lost nothing in defeat.

Earlier this month, Drew contested the Bristol Box Cup, where he won two bouts in two consecutive days to win the gold medal for his age group at under 38kgs.

Chief Coach Harry Scott knows next season will be an important one for Drew’s development.

He said: “Drew is a talented lad who had just completed a solid opening season in the Walcot vest. He knows what areas he needs to work on, and I have faith in him to carry on training hard and move up to the next level.”