BILLERICAY & WICKFORD boxers were narrowly beaten in their national finals at the weekend.

Luke Hasson and Ollie Hood both lost on close points verdicts in the ABA Junior Novie Championship finals in Kent.

Hasson was pipped by Birmingham City ABC’s golden boy Atif Khan in their 54kg class A fight for boxers born in 1999.

And Hood was beaten by Nottingham School of Boxing’s Bryer Wheatly in the 54kg class B bout for boxers born in 1998.

But head coach Les Cooke and club coach Jimmy Head were both pleased with the progress the teenagers have made.

“Jimmy is impressed with how far Luke has come on in the gym of late and would expect to see him do well in the open class championships after Christmas,” said Cooke.

“Ollie came into the National Finals in only his second season with the Billericay & Wickford.

“This in itself was a great achievement to reach a National final so early in his boxing career.”

Hasson went to the Merlins Entertainment Comples in Leysdown, Kent, as Essex and regional champion.

But he had his work cut out against northern England champion Khan, who was unbeaten in 13 fights.

The Essex fighter started the slower of the two, but brought his slick boxing skills to the fore in the second and third rounds.

He had Khan backing up at one point but it was not enough as the impressive Khan took the verdict.

Hood's opponent has attracted much talk and he went into the final with 12 wins from 13 fights but the Billericay & Wickford fighter had also overcome decent opposition to take the London rounds and at Southern regional level.

The bout was even all the way through the three rounds but Bryer just edged a split decision to take the title.

Billericay & Wickford are due to move into their new base in Heron Avenue, Shotgate, next month after securing a long-term lease on a 6,000 square feet building.

The club had been based in a wooden hut in Lake Meadows park for many years and will be running competition and non-competition boxing.

The club will cater for juniors from the age of five, with ladies' boxercise classes and a veterans boxing class for men.

Full details are on the club website at www.billericay boxingclub.com.