DROITWICH boxers Frankie Butler and Charles Delve are both out of the Golden Belt Championships after losing in the national semi-finals at Aylesbury.

The competition is for boxers born in 1990 with 10 or less bouts to their name and the pair both had cause to feel aggrieved after their defeats.

Butler was up against a very fast, strong opponent in Midd-lesborough's Daniel Dale. Dale had won his last six bouts and attacked from the opening bell.

Butler was caught off guard by the savagery of the attack but was soon firing back and the bout was beginning to come to life when the referee decided to give Butler a standing count.

On the resumption, Dale once again attacked but again Butler fired back - and once more the referee stepped in to give Butler a standing count.

The bout then had to be stopped because Butler had received two counts in a round.

"We were all flabbergasted," said coach Chris Andrews. "Frankie was in no trouble at the time, he is a strong boxer and was already beginning to catch Dale with his own powerful punches when the stoppage occurred.

"Had he been hurt or shaken, the stoppage would have been justified, but he was totally bemused by the referee's decision and very, very angry.

"In a national semi-final, a boxer has every right to be given a fair chance of reaching the final but this was definitely denied to Frankie on this occasion.

"I have not spoken to anyone who watched the bout who could understand why the referee intervened in the way he did. It is a disgrace."

Delve was also up against a formidable opponent in Liam Knight from Sunderland.

Knight is ranked number two in the country in his age/weight group after reaching the final of the Open Championships for boxers born in 1990 earlier in the season.

But, for two-and-a-half rounds, Delve outclassed him with a superb display of skillful boxing.

He was well up on the computer scoring system going into the third round and seemed to be steaming to a memorable victory when disaster struck.

Knight was putting everything into a last desperate attack when Delve seemed to slip and, while off balance, took a blow to the head and was given a standing count.

He appeared fine on the resumption and continued to look the better boxer until Knight put him down with a swinging right.

He was on his feet almost immediately but dazed. The two-counts-in-a-round rule came into play and the referee stopped the bout.

"Charles was caught by a very good punch and the referee had no option but to stop the contest, despite Delve's wide points lead," said Andrews. "In boxing, you can never take your eye off the ball - a puncher is always in with a chance until the final bell and jubilation can turn to dejection in a matter of seconds.

"Charles was heartbroken. He has worked so hard to succeed in these championships and he was only seconds away from the final.

"Both these boxers can be justly proud of what they have achieved. But the way they both lost in these semi-finals has been heartbreaking and has left two talented young men feeling quite devastated."