Two former East Durham College boxing academy students have been continuing to make a successful transition from amateurs to professionals.
East Durham Boxing Club trained Jay Hughes, 19, from Trimdon and Darren Richardson, 22, from Thornley, both brought 2016 to a close with impressive victories at the Rainton Meadows Arena last weekend.
Former brickwork student Darren took just one round to knockout his opponent, Halifax’s Luke Keleher to claim The British Challenge Belt.
Whilst Jay, who studied on a sport course at the college, defeated Yorkshire’s Yousef Al Hamidi by a clear points decision.
East Durham College head boxing coach, Dave Binns, praised the two for their hard work to round of a great year, and for being role models to up and coming boxers.
Dave said: “It was a fantastic night of boxing and it was great to see the hard work put in over the last few months by these two really paid off.
“The lads were fantastic students when they took part in the scholarship programme during their time with us at the college and it’s great to have them still boxing here with our boxing club.
“We have a wide age range at the East Durham Boxing Club and both Darren and Jay are fantastic role models for all the different levels of boxers we have come along to train with us.
“I am really proud at how far these two have come and I am sure we will see a whole lot more success from them in 2017.”
For more information on sports courses and the sports scholarship programmes available at East Durham College, please contact our student services team on 0191 518 8222 or visit www.eastdurham.ac.uk.