GEORGE Davey will keep his Yorkshire 69kg elite belt after a third successful defence of his title.

The Henry’s Gym boxer had tough Eastburn opponent Joe Garside on the canvas in the first round at his home club in Acomb, before finishing the bout a comfortable winner on points.

Victory for Davey followed his narrow defeat to the highly-rated Mohammed Harris Akbar at the Yorkshire ABA Championships.

Akhbar, who was named the English Boxing Youth Championship’s outstanding boxer, has also won gold for his country in the Commonwealth Youth Games.

But, having drawn Davey in the first round of the county competition, Akhbar edged a points decision with the former’s coach Henry Wharton – York’s three-time world championship contender – adding: “George only lost narrowly to Akhbar, which bodes well 23 bouts into his career.

“I think 12 months down the line we could be talking about a different result.”

Rafal Benka also defeated Huddersfield Gladiators’ Thomas Quinn to win his own Yorkshire belt in a fight described as “top-class” by Wharton, meaning the Regent Building gym now boast five champions.

On the undercard, Wharton’s son Sonny, meanwhile, made light of a height disadvantage, to win his contest.

Following another well-attended night of boxing, Wharton senior added: “I want to thank the York public for their support and it’s great to see the progression we have made after taking over a building that was in wrack and ruin.”

Henry’s Gym’s last show of the season is on Saturday, May 13 and the club would like to hear from anybody interested in sponsoring a bout for £50, which covers the cost of a trophy in return for an advertisement in the programme,

Eight fighters will also be competing in the Haringey Cup – Europe’s biggest boxing tournament – from June 16 to 18.