Hopes are high for four town youngsters who are all in with a shout of progressing through the Tyne, Tees and Wear finals stage, at Peterlee Leisure Centre (8pm start).

Gus Robinson ABC fighters Steve Smith, 17, Peter Cope, 16, and Paul Archer, 17, are joined by the Catholic Club's Callum Winton, 16, in the regional heats.

They will hope to do better than the town's senior fighters did at the same stage earlier this month – when Alan Robinson, Mick Hadfield and Stuie Buckley were all knocked out.

Smith will be confident going into the class five 50-52kg section as he could face three opponents who he has already beaten.

Coach Wayne Short said: "Steve is a classy lad who beat the other three
in his group comprehensively.

"He sometimes gets a bit anxious but we have drummed it into him to be confident."

Cope is the sole entrant in the class five 52-54kg category and will be handed an automatic bye to the national quarter finals unless a fighter fails to make the weight in the under-52kg section.

Short said: "Peter has won two national titles at novice level but this is his first competition at open level and he could come up against some good lads in the quarter finals.

"But he is definitely up for it and has looked sharp in the gym."
Only one other boxer is entered in Archer's class six 60-63kg group, but Hylton Castle ABC's Lee Mould should provide a stern test.

"Paul is a really good lad who just needs to believe in himself a bit more," said Short.

"He is an experienced fighter who has had about 35 bouts. He has definitely got a chance providing everything goes right."

Catholic Club's sole representative Winton will be looking to make good on the huge potential he has shown for the last couple of years.

He has been training three times a day during the school holidays in preparation for his title quest in the hotly contested class four 57-60kg section.

Catholic Club coach Paul Allen said: "Callum should have had titles before but circumstances like injuries have caught us out.

"He is ready for this and up for it."

Fighters who do succeed will go through to the national quarter finals which take place in Newbiggin on May 18.

Meanwhile, Gus Robinson fighters Adam Cope, 11, and Ian Archer, 22, both suffered defeats at the Wellington Club, in Middlesbrough.

Cope was up against J McGinn but lost by a majority decision in a close fight which saw both boxers scoring accurately.

Archer was matched with D Johnson but the fight was stopped in the second round.

The Hartlepool fighter never got going and was given a standing count twice in the first and twice in the second.