Martin Ward is on course to punch out a place in Repton history after launching his bid for senior ABA glory in the North East London championships

By LEN WHALEY

Martin Ward is on course to punch out a place in Repton history as the club's youngest ABA senior champion after launching his bid for glory in the North East London championships at Dukes Hall on Friday night.

England ace Ward, Michael McCarthy and Frank Buglioni were all crowned champions for the Bethnal Green club at the start of the national title trail in Hornchurch.

The trio will now be joined by walkover winners Oscar Webb and Luke Turner when the championships continue at the London semi-finals and finals at York Hall tonight (6pm).

The 17-year-old Ward, who has avenged his sole loss to an English rival in the past four years, looks set for a walkover win in the London finals, but the Repton teenager was put to the test last week by aggressive Crown and Manor fighter Matthew Chanda.

Former ABA novice champ Chanda set out to heap pressure on the elusive Ward, who showed his speedy skills by moving in and out with fast-punching attacks and landing the telling shots as the regular England choice piled up the points to take the verdict and launch his bid for glory.

McCarthy's extra class showed in his lightweight title win over Scott Burrell, one of a series of clashes between rivals from Repton and Peacock BC.

Former junior champion McCarthy took control with effective attacks while a tiring Burrell was warned for holding in the later stages as the Repton hope earned a unanimous verdict.

Hard-hitting Buglioni slammed his way to two inside-the-distance wins to land the middleweight title.

First came a two-round triumph over Peacock entry Dalton Miller, who was rocked by solid shots and forced to take a standing count before the referee stepped in to signal the end.

Next up for was another Peacock hopeful Ives Kinistioni, who tried to outscore the Repton ace, but was shaken by a series of huge shots before the referee intervened.

The super-heavyweight showdown between Repton's 2008 national finalist Damien Campbell and Wadi Camacho provided the biggest shock of the night as Camacho's speedy shots clinched the decision.

There was also an exit for Repton light heavyweight Talha Lodhi.