EASTBURN Amateur Boxing Club's Josh Holmes reached the final of the England Senior Development Championships with an emphatic victory at Doncaster Dome.

The 21-year-old stopped Michael Jephcott, of Leamington Spa-based Cleary's Boxing Gym, after one round and will now take on Jerome Campbell from Islington in the 60kg final at Grantham.

Holmes, from Earby, was just too good for his southpaw semi-final opponent, who was left with a broken nose and ruled unfit to continue.

Trainer Naz Jalil was delighted at the way Holmes carried out his instructions.

He said: "Josh did everything we told him to. It was like boxing to a script and he totally destroyed the lad in the first round."

A great upper cut left Jephcott – an East Midlands title holder – on a standing eight count before hooks to his body left him heavy-legged as Holmes wrapped the contest up early.

Just three days earlier, he won his quarter-final bout on a unanimous verdict at the same venue with a superb display against Jason Weir.

His Astley VIP opponent – who was the North-West and Tyne & Wear champion – lasted the distance despite some severe punishment from the Eastburn ace.

Jalil, who first trained Keighley's Olympic boxer Muhammad Ali, said: “Josh was so determined. He nearly had him in the first round when his legs almost went.

“But because Jason is an experienced boxer, he recovered well and fair play to him for that.”

Holmes remained the dominant force throughout the contest but Weir held out to go the distance.

Jalil said: “I told Josh to go all out in the last round and he still had bags of energy.

“He had him at a standing eight count but it was not enough to finish him off – it’s champion v champion after all at this stage.

“I don’t how he stood up to it but credit to him for taking the punishment. He deserved to last three rounds for that.”

Meanwhile, Eastburn's Joseph Garside enjoyed an emphatic victory at a show in Bridlington.