ALEX STRUTT won the Midland Counties Novice Middleweight Championship with a storming performance.

Strutt, a member of Droitwich Amateur Boxing Club (DABC), defeated Leicester's Aaron Phelps to win the novice category at Burton on Saturday.

In a furious encounter Strutt had to withstand a ferocious start by Phelps, but by the end of the first round had started to knock his opponent out of his stride with a series of hooks and jabs.

In the second round Strutt stood up to a barrage by Phelps and then took control in the final round.

With his opponent desperate to make up lost points the DABC fighter picked his shots, as he won his seventh bout out of eight on points.

Strutt, who defeated Telford's John Mullarkey in the semi-finals a week before, now meets the North East champion in the national quarter-finals on April 23.

Coach Chris Andrews said: "Alex deserves every success for his hard work.

"He's shown a lot of composure to do so well."

Light heavyweight Dave Jenvey, aged 21, missed out on the novice finals when he lost to Birmingham's James Ingram.

Adam Mytton, aged 17, also missed out on glory when he lost the Midland Counties Junior final to Kettering's Dell Rogers.

Mytton, who reached the final when his semi-final opponent withdrew last week, was edged by three points in a fast moving bout.

Sean Donnelly, aged 15, lost in the competition's semi-finals a week ago, when he was beaten by national finalist James Price.