The quarter-final arrangements for the Golden Belt Championships - originally scheduled for last Saturday - resembled a Marx Brothers comedy.

With less than 72 hours to go, the venue in the north east had not been confirmed.

Then the event, which matched the qualifiers from the Home Counties against their Tyne Tees counterparts, was rescheduled for Monday evening at Gateshead Leisure Centre.

Oxfordshire Amateur Boxing president Colin Goodenough described the arrangements as a total fiasco.

He added: "When you take into account that these are championships for 16 and 17-year-olds, somebody has overlooked the fact that most of these lads are busy with school and college exams at this time of year.

"How can you stage them during the week when it also means their coaches having to take time off work?

"Not every employer is sympathetic and that places both the boxer and their trainer in a highly difficult position."

Oxford Boxing Academy coach Faz Keyani had already taken the decision not to travel to the north east as his prospect Jordan Ottwell had exam commitments this week.

But the 16-year-old Kidlington flyweight is through to the semi-finals on a walkover after his opponent withdrew from the competition on Friday evening.

However, Blackbird Leys contender Mavrik Harding did embark on the 600-mile marathon to face Danny Woods, from the Lambton Street gym, in Sunderland.

But sadly the trip saw him emerge on the wrong side of the verdict after a close battle.

Woods edged the opener before the Oxford teenager really got into his stride.

Harding started to impose his authority after the interval and landed some well-placed shots to head and body with both hands.

And he continued to find the target in the final session, but the early work from Woods seemed to sway the judges and the Blackbird Leys boxer came home disappointed.