Battle for GB Olympic boxing squad heats up at the Liverpool Arena

GREAT BRITAIN performance director Rob McCracken hailed the fighters who claimed GB titles in Liverpool last night but warned they have much more to do to seal their places in London 2012.

Commonwealth Games medallists Simon Vallily, Callum Smith and Bradley Saunders were among the title winners while the performance of the night came from Hull’s former European bantamweight champion Luke Campbell.

Campbell pulled off a punch-perfect 23-6 win over his 56kg rival Iain Weaver to wrest back pole position in one of the tightest domestic categories and McCracken said: “Luke has come through a difficult patch and taken his chance. But the competition for places is such that no-one in the squad is guaranteed their place in the Olympic qualifiers next year.”

Delhi silver medallist Smith produced another of the evening’s many highlights by disposing of welterweight rival Anthony Fowler in an all-Liverpool grudge match.

Smith said: “Fowler had done a lot of talking in the build-up to this fight and everyone was building him up like he was Superman or something. I went out there and showed I’m easily the best at my weight in the country.”

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