A DROITWICH Spa boxer is currently fighting a battle out of the ring as he attempts to further his education.

Adam Mytton (pictured), aged 16, wants to choose boxing as his optional sport for A-level PE but students are currently banned from doing so.

The Droitwich Amateur Boxing Club member, and former National Schools' finalist, is sitting his GCSEs at St Augustine's High School, in Redditch, and will take PE as an A-level.

Yet he will be unable to be assessed in his chosen sport as the Oxford and Cambridge Royal Society of Arts (OCR) Examination Board prohibit it.

An internal investigation is currently ongoing at the OCR but if the situation, which has been rumbling on for several years, doesn't change, Mytton could take the examination board to court.

He said: "It is unfair that I am not allowed to link my interest, skills and knowledge in boxing with my school PE studies when my mates who play basketball and football are allowed to study their sports as part of the curriculum.

"Boxing is a major Olympic sport. I reckon it is as intellectually taxing as any sport when considering technical and tactical aspects. It has a rich history, and the standard of fitness it requires puts it in a league of its own."

His mother Tina added: "Adam did apply for boxing for GCSE but they kept us in limbo for 12 months so we have applied again for A-level.

"We would rather it not go to court but if it has to we will definitely go to court with it."

Adam's PE teacher has even written to the OCR.

The matter was first raised in November 2000 when East Durham and Houghall Commmuntiy College asked the OCR to include boxing on the syllabus.

The OCR PE subject officer at the time said: "Boxing is classed as a fighting activity and as such is considered not to be an appropriate activity at A-level."

The college challenged the verdict and in October 2001 OCR's appeals committee unanimously agreed the decision be reconsidered. Four months later, after consultation with the Joint Council for General Qualifications, it was rejected, and remains that way.

A decision from OCR's internal investigation is expected at the end of this month.

Spa ABC stages a tournament this Friday at Stoke Prior Sports and Country Club, in Westonhall Road. Boxing starts at 8pm and admission is £7 and £4.