CANTERBURY light welterweight boxer Ritchie Goodfellow has learned he will face Owner Overa, of Islington, in the semi-finals of the English novice championships.

The 20-year-old Christ Church College, Canterbury, student will fight at the York Hall Baths, Bethnal Green, Thursday, December 5.

His fellow-member of Canterbury Boxing Club, Tyler Cosier, gave a clinical display to outpoint Jack Bird, of Peterborough, at the Grampian Nightclub in Corby, Northamptonshire, at the weekend.

Cosier buckled the legs of his opponent with his solid punching and his defence was almost impenetrable.

In a steel town with a strong Scottish community, the boxers were played into the ring by bagpipes, and the brave-hearted Canterbury southpaw Joe Gough easily won every round of his bout against the more experienced Alex Broom, also from Peterborough’s Phoenix club, who had former British welterweight champion Gary Deroux in his corner. All three judges voted Gough a 60-56 winner.

Canterbury’s Ian Ines was awarded the trophy for best boxer among the 11 contests, after beating Colin Griffiths, of Melton Mowbray, on points.