OWEN Brown from Priory Park ABC has boxed his way to a national title.

He fought his way through a tough category to win the U64kg NAGBC (National association of Girls and Boy's Club) title in Manchester.

Brown entered the competition for boxers born in 1999 and 2000, in a category stacked with some of the best talent the country has to offer, with boxers who have won numerous national titles and boxed for England.

What makes this title so notable is the fact that Brown was born December 2000 and but for a few weeks would be in the 2001 category. He gave away age and experience to his opponents, but eased through to the semi-finals, where the competition really stepped up in class.

The Priory Park fighter booked his place in the final by beating Marcos Molloy, a current National and Three Nations champion, boxing out of the famous Rotunda club in Liverpool.

After a tight first round, Brown found his range and with his movement, put on a polished performance to get the win and keep an expectant crowd quiet.

In the final, held in Manchester on December 9, he boxed Brandon Staycey, again a much more experienced boxer from Devenport ABC. Again after a tight first round, Brown adjusted well to his southpaw opponent to again get a well deserved decision and win the title.

Club coach Warren Davies said: "The club have not really looked into it, but believe he could possibly be one of the youngest boxers ever to win that category, and we are rightly proud of his achievement. He has so much potential, the hardest part of his journey so far was keeping him in the gym.

"About three months before the completion started, he was talking of having a break from boxing, and usually with someone of his age you usually don't see them again. However, we managed to keep him in and with some nurturing from our coaches, a good sponsor and some hard graft, the rest is now history.

"After a week off, he is now back in the gym and working hard for the youth championships, which start the beginning of February. Hopefully he will inspire the rest of the boxers we have entering up coming competitions this season as he is very popular lad with an infectious personality.

"The club at present is so busy and I believe the strongest it has ever been with so much young talent coming through. The future is certainly bright and myself and the great coaching team at Priory can't wait to see how the future plays out."