Banbury BC lightweight Ashley Banks will take on Dan Mugialzon (Hooks BC) in the England Junior Novice semi-final at Grove Park in London today.

It follows Banks’s impressive points win against Allah Ibrahimi Mohammad, from Portsmouth’s Team Wiseman, in the 60-63kg contest at Rye last Saturday.

In a tight, fast-paced opening round, Banks, who lives in Bicester, sent the awkwardly-styled London and Eastern Counties champion Mohammad to the canvas after catching him off balance with a clean left hook.

However, the referee saw things differently and ruled it as a slip.

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Going into the second round, Banks started to dominate against a more defensive Mohammad, who was clearly feeling the effects of his first-round knockdown.

The more experienced Mohammad came back strongly in the third round and there was little to split the fighters.

But the ten-second warning saw Banks rally his strength before taking the bout on a majority verdict.

If Banks beat Mugialzon, the final is next Saturday in the Isle of Sheppey.

Meanwhile, Banbury fighter Josh Keen opened his account for the season with a unanimous points verdict against Niall Woodland, from the home club’s Luton Academy.

The pace was extremely high from both boxers, but it was Keen who showed his strength as he ended the opening round on top.

He then showed off his skills to take the next two rounds.

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