ESSEX University Boxing Club are celebrating a double success after two of their members were crowned champions.

Lewis Richardson won gold at the Celtic Boxcup, while club-mate Dan Salmon became Eastern Counties champion.

England international Richardson (under-75 kilogrammes) became elite middleweight at the Celtic Boxcup, in Dungarven.

Richardson's first opponent was under-22-year-old National Irish Champion and European Championship contender, Keran Cassidy.

It was a tough bout for Richardson to kick off the new season and a slow tentative start became a technical battle, with both boxers of a similar height and range.

Cassidy relied on switching from southpaw to orthodox and back to southpaw in an attempt to create confusion for Richardson.

But it resulted in the Essex University boxer finding his target easier and winning the first round.

Richardson struggled in the second round when allowing Cassidy to impose himself more in the centre and he left himself with it all to do in the final round.

But Richardson settled into his work straight from the bell, leading with the right jab and backhand before moving off to land the right hand.

That caused Cassidy to miss with his own counters, allowing the Essex University boxer to squeeze himself past the winning post.

The final proved more one-sided for Richardson, against the Irish Defence Forces champion Rory O'Donoghue.

Starting with a quick sharp right jab, Richardson held the centre of the ring with confidence.

At times he allowed himself to be pushed back to the ropes where O'Donoghue enjoyed some success but this was limited with good defensive movement.

A good strong third round sealed the fight for Richardson, who held the centre with his potent sharp jab repeatedly finding the target to clinch the title.

Salmon (U64kg) became Eastern Counties champion at Five Lakes Country Park, to progress to next week's zone finals in Chelmsford.

The light welterweight (under-64kg) proved too strong and quick for his opponent Mustafa Rafiq from the Top Yard gym in Peterborough.

After last week's KO, the Essex University boxer wanted to capitalise on his prowess but Rafiq did not hang around, moving out of distance continually in the first round.

Salmon followed instruction from coach Derek Rulten, working to the body against his taller opponent to keep the pressure on.

He caught Rafiq with a powerful left hook in the final round that staggered the Top Yard boxer and perhaps rendered a count, as Salmon produced another convincing performance.