WALCOT boxer Said Eltuyev came within a whisker of winning the England Boxing Youth Championships at 64kgs in Rotherham last weekend, writes Dave Veysey.

The 17-year-old encountered Mark Dickinson from Birtley ABC in the final, over three three-minute rounds.

During the first round, few scoring shots were landed as both boxers kept a tight guard whilst attempting to figure each other out.

However, the middle session saw the Walcot boxer increase the tempo to land with several left jabs and straight rights to take the round.

Dickinson raised his game over the final three minutes and tried to impose himself on the Walcot boxer, but Eltuyev cleverly avoided many of the northern champion’s shots using nimble footwork, and then countered with fast straight rights and left hooks.

Dickinson’s come-forward style must have caught the eye of the ringside judges though, and he was awarded a split points decision.

Walcot Coach Lionel McCrea was very disappointed at the result.

He said: “That was a very close bout but I felt that Said landed with the cleaner shots throughout the contest.

"He boxed very well and I thought he nicked it. He is a class act and a credit to his father Islan and to Walcot.”

The previous day, Eltuyev had beaten Darnell Sterling from the Manor Boxing Academy in Sheffield in his semi-final, claiming victory with a unanimous points decision.