Horden Sportsmans ABC's Gary Hancock fights in the National Schoolboy finals this weekend where he will be bidding to claim the under 39 kilo crown.

Gary qualified for the final with victories over Kirk Goodings of Sunderland ABC in the divisional championships as he scored a unanimous decision.

In the regional round he had a 9-4 win over Dean Toohey of Cleckheaton ABC and this put him in line for the quarter finals where he was victorious over his Birmingham opponent James Bowater of Priory Park ABC.

Although Bowater was a tidy boxer, Gary recorded a massive lead winning 23-14.

Next was the national semi-finals held at Skelmersdale in Lancashire where he met a highly-rated opponent in Lee Azard.

Azard was a natural boxer with quick hand speed who had only one defeat on his record but Gary matched his hand speed and used the ring beating his opponent to the jab, recording a points victory of 6-2.

Fighting at the Barnsley Metrodome on Sunday, his opponent in the National Finals will be Eddie Cochran of Trojan ABC from the South-East.

Cochran is said to be a stylish boxer but Gary is improving with every bout and is confident of success which isn't surprising given his track record.

He's Gary has won 16 of his 20 bouts, and he has avenged three of his four defeats.

Coach John Dineen and assistant Gary Hancock say Gary has worked very hard to get where he is now, and are very proud of him.

l Darlington ABC also have two boxers fighting in the finals with Robert Smith and Elliott Welsh representing the club in Barnsley tomorrow.

Both are fighting in the 51kilo category with Welsh in class two (13-14 years) up against Lee Sexton from North London who won the title last year.

Smith is in class one (12-13 years) and is paired with Peter Dawson of Ursfield.

Both the Darlington fighters have lost just once bout each with Smith winning five from six and Welsh winning all but one of his ten bouts.

Darlington ABC's Lol Degnan is confident about the two lad's chances. He said: "Both are strong kids and have a will to win which is not a bad thing to have at that age."