Great year is just the start for Rugeley Police
Steven Smith has completed a fine year for his gym by bringing home the UniBox Midlands welterweight title - but Rugeley Police Boxing Club still want more.
His area crown adds to the three they already claimed in the championships during 2014, plus a national semi-finalist and finalist,
The new season will see Smith look to go, at least, one better to a national title decider in the England Development tournament, where Lloyd Ransome will also drop down to heavyweight.
Morgan Jones also claimed Midlands honours in the junior side of the competition, before going out in the quarter-finals.
There are also high hopes for 13-year-old Myles Basford, son of trainer Kenny, when he debuts in the England Schoolboys next year.
Coach Ian Lear said: "We targeted three Midlands titles and a couple of national champions, so we are actually behind on where we wanted to be!
"Had it not been for bad decisions, we would have achieved what we set out to. None of our fighters lost by a mile. In fact, I thought they had all done enough to win.
"But we can't really complain, the gym is buzzing right now and everyone is training hard to get better and better.
"We are a well-kept secret, there isn't a club round here for miles but we are making our mark in the championships. That should help attract more members."
The fight factory, based on Wellington Drive, was started in association with the police and local businessmen in 1967.
Smith brought the first UniBox - brought in over the last 18 months to get fighters used to championship boxing - belt home last weekend.
He rebounded from losing the first round to win the second and then nudge a toe-to-third against Josh Peaseen, from Far Cotton in Northampton.
A unanimous decision made some amends for his England Development semi-final defeat, which was decided by a point on one card.
He continues in Class B next year joined by Ransome, who will join the combatants who have had 11 to 20 bouts. He reached the semi-final and then the final at super heavy in Class A.
Jones will box on in the Development juniors, after building up a reputation for power when the national stages rolled around.
The 15-year-old lost two rounds in the pre-quarters before pulling back a split decision, aided by a last session standing count.
The Hagley Park Academy student then dropped James Button in the first round of the quarter-finals, before losing on a split decision himself.
