MILEY Imeson will be bidding to win a national title at the England Boxing Development Championship finals tomorrow.

The Henry’s Gym fighter will take on Harrow ABC’s Tommy Rogerson at North Solihull Leisure Centre in the 15-year-old 66kg class.

Imeson will be giving away a height advantage to Rogerson, but will be prepared for that challenge having overcome the taller Joseph Vaughan, of Littlebrough ABC, in his semi-final at Liverpool.

On that performance, former World Championship title challenger Henry Wharton, owner of the Acomb-based club, enthused: “Miley was absolutely unbelievable.

“He boxed a really tall kid who posed problems, as anybody would who has reached the national semi-finals. The first round was fairly even and could have gone either way but, after coming back to his corner, Miley followed his instructions perfectly from then on and won the last two rounds comfortably by showing his boxing skills and maturity.”

Henry’s missed out on two fighters at the national finals, though, with Rob Magill not even making the ring in his semi-final.

On a morning of misfortune, his car broke down and, after waiting for a lift to Liverpool, he only arrived at the venue for 11.30am – two hours later than planned.

After going on the scales, he was then heavier than his 75kg limit and could lot lose the necessary weight by the noon deadline, with Wharton adding: “If he had arrived two hours earlier, he would have lost the weight.

“Maybe he had a few extra bottles of water than he should have done before the weigh-in and he will have to live and learn from that. It’s a real shame because he had a great chance to become a national champion, because he’d come through five bouts looking sensational.”

Imeson and Magill’s Regent Buildings’ stable-mate George Davey also beat Great Britain international Casey Brown in an English belt eliminator at Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

Despite his opponent having more than 80 bouts to his name, Davey won on points in a unanimous decision and will now go on to box for the national title.

A thrilled Wharton said: “It was a massive step up for George. He’s had only a third of the number of bouts his opponent has fought, but he put on a sensational performance.”