HENRY'S Gym is to host two Yorkshire Elite challenge bouts tomorrow.

Nathan Shepherd will challenge holder Joe Garside for the Amateur Boxing Association Yorkshire Elite 69kg title while John-Patrick Harker and Ellis Saleh will compete for the vacant ABA Yorkshire Elite 56kg belt.

Doors open at noon and the fights start at 1pm at the Regent Buildings club in Acomb. Coach Henry Wharton, the former world championship contender, advises punters arrive early to avoid missing an afternoon of entertainment.

Home boxers Shepherd and Harker will be boosted by clubmate Jack Marshall's recent successes, with the 15-year-old having won the England Boxing National Development Championships 50kg title in October and a silver medal at an international tournament in Sweden in November. Henry's Gym boxer Rafal Benka also won silver at the King of the Ring tournament in Boras, losing out to the Youth Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kieran McMaster.

Thanks to Marshall's exploits in Banbury, the club can now boast two national champions in two years following the 2017 success of then-15-year-old Miley Imeson.

Speaking about Marshall's title win on October 28, Wharton said: "National championships don’t come easy but he came through it with flying colours against a top-notch opponent. It sets a precedent for the other youngsters in the city.

"He’s a credit throughout the gym. He never misses training. When people dedicate themselves and win national titles, it makes the city proud, never mind just the club."

Of the fight itself, which took place in Banbury, Wharton added: "He won the first round, but it was close, and lost the second, which was close again.

"The third round, he listened to instructions and raised his game. For a young man to change his game and come out better than his opponent is just phenomenal.

"The future’s very bright with him, and the same for others, with medals, belts and national championships.

"It’s good for the future because everyone now in the gym has to keep up with the Joneses. You only need one lad to make it and it encourages another lad to make that standard."