Published at 11:12, Thursday, 21 June 2012

TOP amateur boxing prospect Jacob Carton is looking to prove worthy of GMB backing after the trade union agreed to sponsor the teenager.

GMB READY FOR THE FIGHT: Whitehaven boxer Jacob Carton, centre has had his ABA championship hopes boosted with asponsorship deal with the GMB Union. Pictured are Joe Murdoch, left and Edwin Dinsdale from the union presenting Jacob with £300 towards his expenses

Carton, a Year 10 pupil at St Benedict’s Catholic High School, in Whitehaven, has won 10 of his 13 bouts, four by knockout, showing major potential.

“I am dedicated at all times and want to achieve to the highest level possible,” Jacob said. “I train hard and recognise you have to put the long hours in the gym if you want to be up there with the best.

“To be given this sponsorship from the GMB Union, through Joe Murdoch, the local convenor, and his reps, is a great honour and I will be doing my best to repay their faith in me. I recognise that we live in an area where facilities are limited in junior sport and you need a great deal of support from others to succeed.”

The 15-year-old first laced up his gloves five years ago at Whitehaven & District ABC, under the watchful eye of coach Tim Savage.

“He and Barry Acton saw I enjoyed the physical side of the sport and they both spend a lot of time coaching me leading up to fights,” Jacob added. “They are top guys and I can’t thank them enough for what the do for me and the other lads at the club.

“After training for two years I had my first amateur bout, winning inside the first 20 seconds. Soon after, I won my second bout in the same style.

“After winning six of my first seven fights and going down to a dubious decision at the 2010 North West Counties Championships in Manchester, I bounced back and won my next five bouts which included a defeat of the Scottish Schoolboys champion and Four Nations finalist at Carlisle.

“At the start of the year I qualified for the final of the North West Counties ABA Championships in Manchester where I fought the 2011 ABA Schoolboy Champion and Four Nations Champion – also number one ranked boxer in Britain – only to lose on a close points decision.

“Tim is going to get me some top sparring with the tops lads in the country next season so I am looking forward to that.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk