Repton's crowd-pleasing middleweight Frank Buglioni has been named in a four-man squad for a clash in Newcastle

By LEN WHALEY

Repton's crowd-pleasing middleweight Frank Buglioni has been named in a four-man squad for a clash in Newcastle on Saturday after answering a London ABA call to box in the North East.

The London team face a strong North-East Counties line-up in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea as part of a tournament sponsored by Ricky Hatton that features clashes between regional teams from across the country.

Buglioni fills the middleweight berth in the London team and is due to offer North East rival Mickey Laws an eagerly awaited rematch following a thrilling encounter in Epping in Februrary.

The Bethnal Green club boxer was a points winner after a tremendous tussle that Repton coach Tony Burns rated "the best contest I have seen in years".

Lightweight Michael McCarthy and welterweights Lee Newman and Luke Turner have also been included in the travelling party.

Classy McCarthy, who won junior title honours with Dagenham BC and reached the ABA quarter-finals in Repton colours, is paired with East Durham's Gary Reay, while Newman who chose to represent England rather than enter this year's ABA championships, faces an unnamed opponent.

Seasoned campaigner Turner is booked for a welterweight clash with Sunderland fighter Glenn Foot.

Meanwhile, Repton have added their name to a list of more than a thousand campaigners helping old rivals West Ham Boys' Boxing Club in their fight against a plan to move them out of their famous home behind Plaistow's Black Lion pub - and build flats on the site.

The gym has been the club's home for more than 80 years and has become one of the best-known landmarks on the London boxing scene.

Hundreds of national champions have emerged under the Hammers banner, including Terry Spinks, who won Olympic gold in Melbourne in 1956.

But Newham Council are now considering an application for planning permission to knock down the gym and build nine flats on the current site.

Repton official Kelvin Wing said: "West Ham have been our big rivals for many years - but at times like this we give them our full support."

To register your support, visit www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/save-west-ham-boys-club.html.