Just champion – by George!

ROYSTON'S bright sporting future received a new boost when 14-year-old George Crotty was crowned National Golden Gloves Champion.

The talented young boxer overcame Chad Sugden of Newark in the under-54kg final in Yorkshire on Saturday with a resounding 5-1 victory.

Crotty, who attends the Meridian School, defeated Sugden, also a national kick boxing champion, commanding all three rounds.

Crotty, who boxes for Stevenage ABC said: "It was a good bout and it is an amazing feeling to win a national title.

"It was quite tough getting to the final, but against Sugden I think I was pretty comfortable."

Crotty's coach Dave Blows said: "Sugden had breezed through the early rounds of the competition, but in George he more than met his match.

"He was beaten to the punch time and again, and George's back hand was just too strong.

"This is without doubt a great achievement for George and his whole family."

Crotty cited Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton as his boxing heroes, and said he hoped to one day emulate their success with world titles.

However, hailing from a talented boxing family, he insisted he was happy following in the footsteps of his older brothers Ricky, a former National Golden Glove, and Billy, an open class boxer with more than 60 bouts to his name.

He said: "They've helped me a lot and I would love to be as good as they are.

"I think they are both really proud of me."

Crotty is the second young Royston boxer to win a national title under the guidance of Blows, who helped 18-year-old Bradley Evans claim the Junior ABA Championship last year.

As a result of his hard work, Crotty will get the chance to become British Champion when he represents England at the Four Nations Final in April.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to boxing for England and I'm definitely going to be aiming for a medal.

"I think that I can do well. It's going to be a big honour and hopefully I can become British champion!