GEORGE Ruston has been crowned National Schoolboy Champion after winning the southern England final in the National Schoolboy Championships.

George, 12, travelled to the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester to take on Sheffield-based boxer Jay Neill.

And the Chalvedon Amateur Boxing Club member secured a unanimous win to walk away with the title.

Chalvedon head coaches Dave Hardy and Charlie Blake were delighted to see George become National Champion.

Hardy said: “We are proud as punch to have another National Champion boxing at the Chalvedon Amateur Boxing Club.

“We’re very pleased for George after his success.”

George was entered into the competition by his club and received a walkover in the early rounds to make him Essex and Eastern Counties Champion.

His first bout came in the semi-finals, where George secured a convincing win over a Berkshire-based boxer in a clash which took place in Milton Keynes.

As a result, George progressed to the final and the nerves started kicking in the moment he saw his opponent.

Neill, from the Steel City Boxing Club in Sheffield, stood a foot taller than George and was unbeaten in his last five bouts.

But George’s nerves disappeared after instructions and advice from his two coaches and corner team, which was made up of Hardy and Blake.

Once the first bell rang, George came out of his corner and did not allow his opponent a chance to get into his rhythm.

George was able to score the cleaner and heavier shots, which earned him a unanimous win and the National Schoolboy title at 52kg.

The victory will also allow George to go on and represent his country.

George will travel to Birmingham with the Great Britain team on June 11.

The Belfairs Academy pupil will get the opportunity to box in the Tri-Nations event, representing Scotland.

George’s success comes just eight months after being introduced to the sport for the first time.

And George has high hopes for the future.

Wayne Wakefield, George’s step-father, expects the 12-year-old to forge a successful career in the ring.

Wakefield said: “George is interested in the Olympics and enjoys watching that. He would love to represent Team GB in boxing at the Olympics in the future.”