HENRY’S Gym boxers Rob Magill and Miley Imeson have reached the National ABA semi-finals after knocking out two of the favourites for their respective titles.

At 75kg, Magill defeated Worley ABC’s George Franklin, having been awarded victory by all the judges.

Imeson, meanwhile, won a split decision at 66kg over the highly-rated Jay Ponting, from Bootle, as the pair emerged victorious from their Yorkshire v East Midlands and Merseyside & Cheshire qualifier in Bridlington.

Both fighters will now compete in Liverpool this weekend, as they bid to make the finals in Birmingham.

Magill and Imeson are 26 and 15 respectively, with York’s former World Championship contender Henry Wharton, who owns the Acomb-based gym, delighted by their progress.

He said: “Miley went the distance with somebody who had stopped his previous opponent in 30 seconds. He pulled out all the stops and he had an answer for everything the kid threw at him.

“He carried out the game-plan against a come-forward fighter and boxed beyond his experience and years and I felt the decisions should have been unanimous. Rob has won 12 of his 13 bouts now and he was up against an opponent who had a record of eight from nine.

“He was a big puncher, but Rob boxed to instruction and outscored him. In Championship boxing, you never really know what you will get, because nerves can kick in and everything can all change in one round.

“But they both came through that challenge phenomenally well and, having beaten the two guys that they did, they are in a good position and shape to carry on their good work in Liverpool. To have both of them two fights away from winning a national title is great for the city of York.”