Bradley Smith goes to Mansfield on Sunday to fight for the Midlands in the quarter finals of the NABC Amateur Boxing Championships.

Bradley, the 16-year-old St Ives Boxing Club hotshot, is quickly becoming one of the more respected young talents in his age-group in the country and at the Mansfield Civic Centre he will stand up and be counted with his Midlands team-mates in their match against Northern Ireland.

“I am feeling confident with my boxing and I am going into each fight knowing that they are all hard fights,” said Smith. “I have now had 33 fights but know I have to be at my best to keep winning. Training has gone very well. I have to spar with boys heavier and older than me but I feel very sharp and strong for my 57kg.”

Having come so close to reaching the Junior ABA final last year, and being given the opportunity to fight for his country, Bradley’s ambition is now to win a major national amateur title, step into senior ABA competition, and follow in the footsteps of the former St Ives ABA member Tommy Martin and turn professional.

“We are currently looking for sponsorship for Bradley to help further his career,” said the boxer’s father, Andy Smith. “If any individuals or companies would like some corporate advertising by sponsoring Bradley then please get in touch.”

Smith will feature on the bill of the St Ives club’s November 29 Burgess Hall dinner show.

Meanwhile, pro Martin will take the next step in his boxing career in Stevenage when he fights on the undercard of the former WBU lightweight world champion on Friday, November 29.

Martin put in a scintillating performance to beat experienced boxer Ibrar Riyaz at York Hall in Bethnal Green last month to make it five wins from five outings since the 19-year-old turned professional 12 months ago.

Throughout the bout the TKO stable boxer dominated the 28-year-old with some seriously classy ring craft which enabled him to pick off Riyaz virtually at will and secure a superb 40-37 points victory.

Martin said: “I can’t wait and hopefully I’ll get my sixth win. The fight in Stevenage will be four weeks after my last fight, but I’m young, fit and healthy, so I’m more than ready to go.

I’m in a really good place at

the minute.”

Tickets for the show at Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre are available from 01438 363200 are priced at £30 and £50.

Ryan Adair, Cambs Police Boxing Club’s 15-year-old English schoolboy champion, was in action as an England international last week and learned a good lesson from his fight against top Scot fighter William Hutchinson.

Adair was beaten on points by Scotland’s hottest prospect, who at nine months older, was a confident and competent boxer in the England v Scotland team showdown at Rainton Meadows Arena in Tyne & Wear.

“Ryan now realises the step up,” said CAMPOL coach Mick Taylor. “He lost on points but he didn’t let himself down.”