Many boys dream of excelling at sport. Henry Thomas of Darlington Amateur Boxing Club puts his dreams into action. He said: “I have been boxing for about four years, a few of my friends went and I started to go with them. I am on the England team as an amateur boxer. I go abroad to compete and sometimes win!” This is an understatement. Henry rarely loses.

He said: “I have won five national titles. I was first selected in 2007, and last boxed for England a few months ago. In July I go to the ‘Golden Gloves’ in Las Vegas. You have to be the best in the country for your weight and age to box for England. My weight is 54kg-57kg ; we box according to our age. I was selected to box in Poland but I couldn’t go because I had to finish a competition off. I will go somewhere else another time. Trainer Lee Bannister said: “He has been picked for the Three Nations this year.”

Always considering his next move Henry has his sights set on the junior ABA England selection tournament, presently in progress, lasting for a couple of months. He has to fight between three and five other boxers at his weight and prove his worth to the selectors. Motivation is not an issue, Henry is focused on end results and he feels that he has the discipline to win.

He said: “I live near Yarm Road in Darlington and go jogging two or three miles every day through the industrial estate near Morton Park.” This is followed by strenuous activity in the evening, with training and instruction from coaches at the club. Not into short term gains the thought of future glory keeps him going.

He said: “You get some good achievements through boxing if you do well at it. I am aiming for the Olympics in 2012. I could do with some sponsors, as could the club. It would help us out a bit. ASDA gave me £500 and I appreciate that but it doesn’t go very far. Sometimes you have to travel all over the country, book into hotels and buy equipment. It’s really expensive.”

Trainer Lee Bannister thinks Henry is first class. He said: “Henry needs no motivation whatsoever, he is 120 percent every time he steps into the gym, all the lads are, but Henry’s desire and his ability have him to the top of his amateur game at the moment. There’s only the World ‘number one’ and McDonagh from Ireland who’ve beat him. A return match stopped McDonagh in two rounds. So he is a little bit good, he doesn’t really brag himself, he doesn’t have to! Everybody else will do it for him. The younger lads in the gym look up to Henry.”

Henry’s talent for boxing surpasses all else. He is taught at home by a tutor to enable him to concentrate on his sport. School is not missed. He said: “I do five nights training, an hour every night. I have only lost two fights and I am Great Britain’s number one and have been for the last year. I have had to give up palling about with my mates to get to be where I’m at now. Instead of being out with my friends on a night, I go down to the gym to train; it’s about dedication. I also watch what I eat and drink. You have to be on the ball all the time, disciplined.”

Henry is a strong contender in the ring. He refuses to let anyone pin him onto the ropes. A medical has never excluded him, or a knockout finished him. He is more concerned about achieving his goals than worrying about potential long term health problems. Other guys Henry’s age know not to pick a fight with him! He said: “I am 15 and I have just won the British title at Nottingham. After the junior ABAs and the ‘Golden Gloves’ in July, then I might have some time off in September. Hopefully I might be selected for the European, then the World games. I feel good about boxing, and if I win the Olympics, there is plenty of money left in the game to turn professional. That’s my aim anyway.