CANTERBURY Boxing Club's James Chiericato is one of the favourites to advance to the quarter-finals of the National Schoolboy Championships this Saturday.

Chiericato, a pupil at Community College, Whitstable, fights on home ground in the regional finals at Canterbury's Northgate Ward Community Centre. The 12-year-old competes against Aaron Grant, from Dorking.

Canterbury Boxing Club's chief coach Dave Kenward said: "James is a very good and stylish boxer, rather than being just a fighter, which is something we encourage. He is tall for his age and uses his reach well. He jabs and moves well, but we are trying to add more weapons to his armoury. He has twice come close to beating England squad members, and there is a lot of promise there."

If Chiericato wins, then he will compete in the quarter-finals in Bristol the following Saturday. This Saturday's tournament starts with the weigh-ins at midday, with boxing expected to start at 2.30pm. Kenward said there should be about 30 bouts for the tournament.

Tickets for the event are £7 for adults and £5 for under-15s and will be available on the door.