SHE’S the ring warrior opponents can’t land a glove on – barely a year after turning to boxing teenager Courtney Catterson is a national champion.

The 17-year-old enjoyed a clear points victory over Shannon Naylor at the Brentwood Sports Centre, in Essex, last Saturday to take the Class 5 National Junior ABA crown.

It’s a huge achievement for the world junior kick-boxing champ, who only turned to the ancient art of pugilism in October last year.

The first girl in the history of York Amateur Boxing Club to represent the outfit in a competitive bout, she has gone from strength to strength after deciding to give boxing “a go”.

“It was a really good fight and Courtney won really well,” said York ABA head coach Billy Wilson.

“She dominated with her jab and won clearly on points. She’s the first national champion in York this century.”

Catterson came through three other bouts during the course of the season to reach the final, at the 56kg weight category, and will now box against the other champions of Wales, Scotland and Ireland in the GB championships in February.

Wilson hopes that a national call-up for the youngster, who was inspired to take up boxing after watching Leeds’ Nicola Adams win a gold medal at the London Olympics, will soon be forthcoming.

“She has done absolutely fantastically,” he added. “She only started boxing a year ago and winning a national championship takes a lot of doing.

“Courtney has improved vastly over the last six or seven months and has really come into her own.

“The difference between kick-boxing and boxing is like that between night and day. The sky is now the limit for her. How many people can say they won a national title within ten fights?”

Wilson continued: “I would love to see her box for England and I think she will now. She’s obviously number one in the country in her age and weight. She won’t become a senior until she is 19 and that could work in her favour.”

Catterson dedicated her win to Sean Boy Finney, an amateur boxer who died at a caravan park near Selby earlier this month.