BLACKBIRD Leys ABC fighter AJ Desmond excelled in beating Gordon Stewart to win the East Midland Box Gold medal.

The Oxfordshire boxer took charge from first round, catching his Glenrothes ABC opponent with good combinations.

The second round followed the same pattern, but Desmond had to hold off Stewart in the third to secure gold in the 48kg-50kg juniors category.

Blackbird Leys’ Joe Gaul was also in action.

He faced eventual winner Zane Akbar, of Bradford Police ABC, in the 50kg junior class, and despite boxing well, suffered a narrow loss in the semi-finals.