HARWICH Boxing Club welterweight Kilian Hardy’s quest for national honours ended in success via a walkover decision at Banbury.

The national development under-69kg class B title was awarded to him when a call was received from England Boxing, who confirmed his opponent from Leeds had withdrawn due to injury.

While it was disappointing to not be crowned national champion in the ring, the situation could not be avoided.

However, as 19-year-old Hardy had won five preceding contests up to the final, he more than justified his newfound status as champion of England.

Harwich head coach Martin Webb said: "While we were all a bit gutted that Kilian took national honours in such bittersweet circumstances, he was fully deserving of the title and we had every confidence he could win the final in the ring in any case.

"He got better as his outstanding championship run evolved, with the semi-final performance arguably the best showing of the five overall campaign wins.

"Kilian is a dream to work with for us coaches.

"He is a quiet, unassuming young man who listens, learns and performs so consistently in the ring.

"We are delighted he has joined our illustrious list of national champions as he joins brothers Charlie and Tommy Jacobs and Rio Gordon, who previously achieved such high accolades.

"Kilian will certainly be a name to look out for in the future."

Harwich did see some actual ring action at the weekend, with their other 19-year-old welterweight prospect Rio Gordon boxing at the Woolston Manor Hotel, in Chigwell.

He took on host club boxer Vilius Alisauskas, from the Repton club based in Bethnal Green.

Alisauskas is no stranger to Harwich or the Gordon family, as he had recorded a previous win and loss against Rio's brother, Paul, a couple of seasons back.

Gordon opened the bout and the new season at a furious pace, stamping his authority on the contest with punishing shots to head and body to take the first round.

Accuracy of shots would be order of the day as he dominated the remaining two rounds to run out a clear unanimous points decision.

The win served as a good warm up for Gordon's assault on the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs (NABGC) National Championships that kick-off in Dagenham on November 2.