FOURTEEN-year old Torbay schoolboy Nathan Halton bids for his second ESABA National Schoolboys' final in three years tomorrow, having put in extra yards on his training programme.

The Westlands pupil, who works out with Apollo (Torquay) ABC, faces London qualifier Jamie Branch (Repton ABC) in the 70-kilos (Class 3) category semi-finals at Haslemere in Surrey.

And he believes he's brushed up on certain aspects of his ring work — thanks to some assistance from South Devon's newest professional.

Halton was described by his trainer/coach Barry Walmsley as unusually sluggish in his points win over Gerald Nivin (Lewsey ABC) in the quarter-finals between the Southern Counties and Home Counties at the Sittingbourne Community Centre a fortnight ago.

Subsequently it was arranged for him to take some training tips from Liam Power as the Paignton light middleweight prepares to meet Barnstaple's Jimmy Briggs in his second paid fight at Torquay's International Riviera Centre on March 6.

"They've known each other for some time and always got along well when Liam used to help out at the Apollo gym before turning professional," explained Walmsley.

"There was no suggestion of working out together because of the strict rules that apply to schoolboy boxing, but Nathan went along to watch Liam train three times since the quarter-finals, so hopefully he will have learned from the experience.

"Nathan beat Nivin 3-0 under the electronic points scoring system, but he can box better than that, particularly when it comes to sharpness. That's where we hope he can learn from Liam."

Branch — tomorrow's opponent — is the son of a former double winning senior ABA champion of the same name, and is unbeaten after four contests in contrast to Halton's nine victories in 11.

Halton also has the added experience of winning his first national age-group title in 2008 at a time when the ESABA Schoolboys' Championships had been re-named The Golden Gloves.

PAIGNTON Pro-Am Club's Lloyd Barwood lost on points in the Area round of the Clubs for Young People (CYP) Championships in Bristol last weekend.

His opponent, Jez Smith from the Kent-based Bushy ABC, was adjudged to have won 2/1 under the complicated electronic scoring system, and now goes through to the quarter-finals.

"It was the right decision, and would possibly have finished 10-6 to Smith under the normal scoring system," said 15-year-old Barwood's father and club coach, Duane Barwood.

"Frankly, it was also a boring fight, with neither boy prepared to take chances or even blowing at the end.

"In fact, it was 0-0 following the first round, 1-0 to Smith after the second and eventually 2-1 to Smith, who was a clever boxer with a longer reach.

"He (Smith) is also a double CYP championship winner and a European silver medallist last year, so it was credit to Lloyd for keeping it close."