THERE was national title glory at last for Newham BC boxer Sam Bezzina when the ABA Schoolboys Championship honours were decided at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, on Saturday. For Bezzina, who had earlier tasted defeat in a national final, the t

THERE was national title glory at last for Newham BC boxer Sam Bezzina when the ABA Schoolboys Championship honours were decided at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, on Saturday.

For Bezzina, who had earlier tasted defeat in a national final, the title success produced a career highlight on a day when his Newham clubmate Desmond Johnson also lifted a national title.

Liam Etheridge from Walsall's Pleck BC, supplied the opposition for Bezzina in the Class Three 48kg final and the talented rivals produced a high standard final at the two-day Royal Navy sponsored tournament.

However, it was Bezzina who had the edge with his effective punching in the opening session and stayed on top until the final round, when the powerful midlands' hope made a desperate attempt to turn the bout his way.

The judges gave the verdict to the Newham entry with an 8-5 scoring in his favour.

Johnson clinched his reward in the Class Two 46kg final against talented rival Brian Jackson, from the Barnsley-based Hard and Fast BC.

The Newham boxer stamped his class on the bout from the start checking his rival's advances with jabs and follow-up shots.

The Yorkshire youngster tried to get back in the contest with his own attacks but Johnson again showed the improved form, which has typified his advance all along the national title trail.

Johnson's dominance was underlined by the official verdict from the ringside judges at the final bell, when they cast a 14-4 margin in favour of the Newham entry.

Newham's final luck had deserted them in the opening contest on Saturday afternoon, with the narrowest of points defeats for class one 30kg entry Sonny Edwards.

The points were in the balance all the way, with the the Newham youngster scoring with accurate shots against the Merseyside rival who replied with his own fast punching rallies.

The closeness of the clash was reflected with the official scoring which gave the verdict and the national title to Rankin by just a single point with a a 4-3 margin.