MARK KILROY put on a stunning performance when Yorkshire took on Merseyside in a tough boxing contest at Bradford.

The 16-year-old England Schoolboy's finalist recorded an outstanding victory over schoolboy international Lee Ponton of the Salisbury Boxing Club, Liverpool.

The Keighley boxer was awarded a unanimous, but narrow, decision in a thrilling contest which lifted the roof for excitement.

Another two rising Keighley prospects were in action in London. Thomas Binns and Danny Spilsbury lit up the capital city with impressive performances despite finding that their opponents weighed heavier than when originally matched.

Despite the odds the Keighley club fighters decided to go ahead with the contests after making the long trip south. They finished up on the wrong end of two very close decisions with 14-year-old Binns going down to Cheshunts Scott Mason and 16-year-old Spilsbury against another Berkshire opponent, Earl Mehmet.

The Keighley club's boxers also took Geordieland by storm when Kane Bywater and Sean Morrisroe both scored first round knock-out victories.

Competing at Durham's Sherburn Leisure Centre, 16-year-old Bywater boxed well throughout the first round of his contest with Chris Whittam of Deerness ABC. Just before the bell he produced a string of explosive shots which won the fight.

Senior light-heavyweight Morrisroe tucked up tight before unloading a Henry Cooper-like left hook to despatch Craig Ditchburn from the same club.

Meanwhile there were commendations in defeat, on his debut, 15-year-old Craig Higgs against another Deerness boxer Anthony Taylor. Higgs had performed admirably throughout the first and for much of the second round before being caught by a crude by effective swing just before the bell. The gallant Keighley lad was still on his feet but the referee intervened.

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