A YOUNG boxer is making his mark on the sport a year after taking it up for the first time.

Ryan Tennant, 12, from Darlington, won through two rounds of the national Schoolboy Championships, and hopes to carry on rising up the ranks The year eight student at St Aiden’s Academy took up the sport to learn focus and discipline.

Ryan, who fights in the 44-46 kg weight category, won the North East championship with victory in a tournament in Newbiggin, Northumberland, then went on to secure the combined North East and Merseyside area championship with victory in Liverpool.

Although he lost his next fight, against the East Midlands champion, also held in Liverpool, and was knocked out of the championship, the experience has whetted his appetite for more.

Ryan, a member of a local boxing club, who names Floyd Mayweather as his favourite fighter, said: “I took the sport up just over a year ago because my Dad wanted me to learn to be focused and disciplined. After the first session, I realised that I loved it.

“I regard myself as a toe-to-toe boxer and am keen to develop further and go for other championships.”