TWO young boxers have landed national titles for Spennymoor Boxing Academy.

Reece Smailes and Ben Jackson won titles in the National Golden Gloves Championships at Gateshead Leisure Centre last weekend.

Reece, 12, of Ferryhill, won the class one 52kg title, beating Dean Kelly, of Liverpool, 11-7, who he had suffered defeat to at an earlier club event.

Ben, 11, of Spennymoor, was best boxer in his class when he beat experienced Manchester fighter Marcus Morrison, 5-3, to win the minor class 36kg.

Their success follows the achievement of Stuey McCrone, who made it to the semi-final of Amateur Boxing Association's national senior championship.

It also helps the club claim its most successful season with eight title holders among its ranks.

Director of coaching Robert Ellis said: "They all do the club and the town proud, they have put a lot of hard work and effort into reaching this stage and thoroughly deserved to win national titles.

"The schoolboys are coming through the ranks and encouraging the rest to keep going. They are a credit to all of the coaches, especially Gary Hodgson who has given hours of his own time to help them."