YORK celebrated more boxing success after local fighter Brad Casey reached the semi-finals of the National Championships.

14-year-old Casey represents the Clifton Moor-based Legions amateur boxing club who had plenty of fighters in action during October.

Casey made it through England Boxing National Development Championships semi-finals after winning a 4:1 split decision over the previously unbeaten Kai Thompson in Bridlington.

Casey was facing “by far his toughest opponent to date”, according to the gym’s head coach Ashley Martin, in Thompson, the Midlands champion who represented the Solihull boxing club.

The York boxer landed the bigger shots out of the two fighters in the early stages of the quarter-final but even those couldn’t move Thompson.

The boxing and moving style that Casey had been instructed to paid dividends for him, while his heavy blows to the body took its toll on his Midlands opponent.

Coach Martin said of the contest: “Brad’s fitness was key to him winning the fight and it allowed him to outwork his opponent as the fight progressed.

“I have to credit to his opponent, Kai, because he came to win and he didn’t give in.”

A split decision was again the result of Casey’s semi-final bout in Tyne Tees, though this time the judges gave the verdict to his opponent, Connor Hughes of Hartlepool’s Headland boxing club.

Casey returns to action tonight when he competes on the Legions’ home show at the Acomb working men’s club, which features plenty of talent from the club.

Featuring on the card are: Casey, Jay Carter, Alessandro Delrio, Tom Scaife, Zachary Evans, Riley Rowan, Henry Marshall, Reece Fitzgerald, Riley Holmes, Jamie-Leigh Smith, Jay Jay Butler, Lewis Clough, Rosanna Bycroft, Riley Edeson, Connor Dunckley and Leo Atang.

Doors open at 6:30pm and boxing starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are priced at £15 and be purchased from Martin at 07513 505088.

Fellow Legions boxer Paris Smith marked her first fight after gold-medal-winning European Championships with a victory.

Smith made history over the summer by becoming the first boxer from York to fight at the European Championships and she returned with a Schoolgirls 64kg gold medal.

Smith’s latest victory came against Tri-Nations champion Maddison Adkin in Hull.

Paris is currently with the England squad which has made the trip to Ukraine for a seven-day sparring camp.

On the same show as Smith in Hull, Luca Pearson competed in a skills bout - a contest in which no result is given at the end.

Henry Marshall boxed his way to a split decision victory and Casey took a unanimous decision win.

Elsewhere, national champion Riley Holmes travelled to Wales to face the Welsh national schoolboys champion and, having given up weight for the bout, lost on points.

In Scotland, Rosanna Bycroft won via a second-round stoppage when she faced an unbeaten opponent.

And, three boxers were in action in Selby. Lewis Clough boxed relentlessly for three before forcing a stoppage over his opponent.

JayJayButler and Leo Atang also competed, though they lost out on close points decision against tough opposition.

Paris Smith and Legions Gym are sponsored by SAY Scaffolding.