Jude English misses out on win at England National Schoolgirl Championship finals

Jude English misses out on win at England National Schoolgirl Championship finals

Jude English, 13, mixed with the very best England had to offer when her tough and decisive boxing skills took her all the way to the England National Schoolgirl Championship finals at the English Institute of Sport, Coleridge Road, Sheffield on 30 May.

Her opponent, Jessica Williams was a tall and slick southpaw from Mickey's Boxing Academy, Selby and she was the only thing standing in the way of the young fighter from Rochdale and the National Championship.

In the first round it was clear that English wanted the title when she forced her opponent back in to her own corner as she worked both the head and body.

Williams managed to escape English's onslaught, only to find herself back onto the ropes as English continued to pile on the pressure.

The constant pressure continued throughout the round from the aggressive Hamer youngster as she looked to land her punches while always looking to defend herself.

At the start of round two Williams came out with clear instructions to try and take the fight to the Rochdale boxer but a similar pattern unfolded throughout the round as English marched towards her opponent with power shots that bounced off the head of the local boxer and all Williams could do was move back onto the ropes while looking for counter shots.

Yet it appeared that the young Hamer hopeful had worked her opponent out as she stepped back out of range before stepping back in to unload power punches of her own and just before the sound of the bell, English jolted her opponent's head back with a perfectly timed right-hand cross.

Perhaps the corner of Williams sensed the fight was slipping away because she was sent out to try and take the centre of the ring while hoping to land her counter punches but it wasn't long before English forced her back onto the ropes again and with a clear intention to take the National title back home to Rochdale.

English began to impose her strength and power as she looked to finish the round on the front foot.

Both girls stood by the referee while the decision was read out and the Hamer corner was left in total dismay and utter disgust when the verdict went to the local boxer.

Hamer coach Steven Connellan said: “I knew something was instantly wrong when it took the official’s ages to work out the result.

“I am totally flabbergasted. This goes on all of the time and we weren’t the only ones who left that arena that day with a bitter taste in our mouths.

“I know it is down to opinion and interpretation but Jude clearly won that contest and Rochdale should now have a national champion.

"The sport is riddled with bad decisions and that is why a lot of young people leave our sport after only a short spell in the game.

“I have to say that during all of this chaos young Jude English showed great maturity and she accredited herself with a lot of respect as she congratulated her opponent while the room echoed with boos from the bemused audience. I know she will comeback from this set back a much stronger person and boxer.”

Hamer's 12-year-old schoolboy Sharuf Ali also reached the national semi-finals only to be beat in a closely fought contest by Blaine Lambert of Karmand ABC at the Demontfort Sports Centre in Evesham, Worcestershire on Sunday 24 May.