JEROME Lawton has kept up his quest to become national ABA schoolboy champion – creating a little bit of history along the way.

The Sandygate Amateur Boxing Club fighter became the first from East Lancashire to win three successive North West Schoolboy titles.

And he followed up by booking a place in the ABA Schoolboy quarter finals after beating Midlands champ-ion, the tricky southpaw, Macauley Owen, of Donnington ABC at the weekend.

The 15-year-old will now be aiming to reach the semi finals when he takes on the Tyne Tees champion at The Boxing School of Excellence in Gorton on Sunday.

Coach Nik Tucker believes his young fighter has all the attributes to become national champion after two fine performances in the last two weeks.

“Jerome was awesome once more,” said Tucker. “He really had to dig deep and alter his boxing style to cope with the surprise of boxing a south paw.”

The Burnley youngsters edged the first round 8-6 in the Olympic style scoring before opening up an impressive 22-13 lead at the end of the second after getting to grips with Owen’s awkward style.

Lawton, a pupil at Hameldon High School, showed his strength and fitness in the final round to secure a 30-20 victory.

The win followed hot on the heels of his history-making third North West title where he stopped Nathan Dootson of Castle Hill Police ABC in the third round.

“Jerome put in a truly awesome display and deserves his third North West Schoolboy title,” added Tucker. “To win three North West titles is an incredible feat but Jerome is hungry to go all the way.

“After that performance against a well thought of fighter, it is going to take a tank to stop him.”

Stablemate Sam Tucker missed out after the 14-year-old lost on a ‘punch back’ against Brian Perkins of Solihull ABC. After taking a 10-8 lead in to the final round the scores were level at 15-15 by the final bell – and the countpack was 27-23 in favour of the Midlands fighter.

“Sam was at the end of a very bad verdict but that’s just how it is sometimes,” said a disappointed Tucker.

However, the Burnley boxing club will have another fighter in the latter stages of the competition with James Kimberley drawn in the ABA Schoolboy semi final against Selby’s Nathan Clarkson from Mickeys ABC.

The 12-year-old from Great Harwood was a national ABA minors finalist last year.

Tucker said: “Kimbo is 6ft tall, 12-years-old and very keen. I’ve never known such a tall boxer at his age. He is going to take some stopping and, along with Jerome, we are all looking forward to the latter rounds.”

n For more information on Sandygate Boxing Club, contact Nik Tucker on 07855 505719 or visit the new club website sandygateabc.com.