LEIGH Boxing Club’s welterweight Matty Burgess lost a close decision in the National Youth Championships in Stoke on Sunday.

Following another all-action performance, many in the venue thought the Leigh boxer had taken two of the three rounds and done enough to win, but the judges sided with the current Midlands and national champion Ben Whittaker of Wodensborough Boxing Club.

Despite the defeat, it was another positive performance from the young fighter.

There was success for his Leigh ABC teammate Matty Walsh, though, after the light heavyweight maintained his unbeaten record in Liverpool on Saturday.

Walsh appeared as part of a North of England Select Squad against an Ireland Select Squad, and the ever-improving Team Leigh boxer recorded a unanimous points’ win over Daniel Lee of Carryduff.

Walsh was also in action at Team Leigh Boxing’s debut show at Wigan Youth Zone, an event organised to raise funds for the youth facility, which includes the Team Leigh Boxing Academy.

In front of a packed crowd including many famous faces, 11 bouts filled the bill with nine Team Leigh boxers in action.

There were wins for Walsh, Jimboy Price, Shaun Michael Varey, Henry Price and boxer-of-the-night Charlie Pimblett, who produced a remarkable debut performance.

Mike Connor, Joe Shinton, Sean Connor and Jordan Nicklin all went down to split decisions.

Team Leigh Schoolboy boxers Josh Waterworth and Isaac McDonagh travelled to Kettering at the weekend, with both lads turning in excellent performances.

Ten-year-old Patrick Price made a busy start to his fledgling career by boxing twice in 24 hours. Patrick made his Team Leigh debut on Friday evening with a skills’ bout in Burnley, before entering another skills’ bout in Liverpool the following evening.