Campbell upstages GB number one

England's Luke Campbell has sent out a strong message to GB Boxing after outclassing Iain Weaver in the amateur bantamweight final in Liverpool.

Campbell was rampant as he beat the European silver medallist and fellow GB podium squad member 23-6.

In the women's lightweight final, GB's Natasha Jonas beat England's Amanda Coulson 11-10 with just moments left.

Great Britain's Tommy Stubbs came from four behind to defeat Wales' Andrew Selby and become flyweight champion.

"I knew I was down, so I had to push forward," said a jubilant Stubbs after the bout which finished 8-4.

"I've got to box the best to be number one."

A storming third round did little to help GB squad member Weaver as he was comprehensively beaten by the 2008 European champion Campbell - who has spent much of this year returning to full fitness following a hand operation towards the end of 2009.

The Hull-based fighter landed several clean, powerful shots, providing GB Boxing's performance director Rob McCracken with plenty to think about.

"I'm getting better and better all the time," a delighted Campbell told the BBC.

You can see by my performance I wanted it. It's very important to me. It means everything and more. I let the boxing speak for itself. Anthony Joshua

"I worked so hard for this fight. It was a long build-up and there was a lot of pressure on me. Iain's a great fighter and to get such a great win against him means a lot.

"I've been delighted with my form all year and it was all about getting the chance and taking it. It's all about earning the place to London at the moment and I hope with this win I've proved that I've got what it takes."

McCracken added: "Luke has come through a difficult patch and taken his chance and a number of the other podium squad boxers underlined the fact they deserve to be number one at this moment in time.

"But the competition for places is such that no-one in the squad is guaranteed their place in the Olympic qualifiers next year. They will all get their chance early in 2011 to show they deserve the opportunity."

Despite being great friends outside of the ring, there was certainly no love lost between Coulson and Jonas in the final of the female lightweight division.

A defiant Coulson rallied late in the fourth to level the points at 10-10, but four-time ABA champion Jonas managed to sneak a dramatic point in the dying moments.

In the final bout of the night Anthony Joshua made his own case for a place in the GB podium squad by beating current squad member Amin Isa 6-3 in the super-heavyweight final.

Isa did not manage to record a point until mid-way through the fight - the tie becoming delicately poised at 3-3 going into the final round before Joshua piled on the points.

"It's a stepping stone to bigger things," Joshua commented.

"You can't miss one, you gotta keep on stepping. You can see by my performance I wanted it. It's very important to me. It means everything and more. I let the boxing speak for itself."

Earlier, only seven points were shared over three rounds as Commonwealth Gold medallist Simon Valilly came up against England's Danny Price in the heavyweight final.

Jonas claims GB lightweight title

The Commonwealth champion managed to edge it 4-3 in the final round but Price will be pleased to have put his name into contention for Olympic selection.

An ankle injury to Martin Ward resulted in a late change to the bill, bringing about a repeat of the 2010 Commonwealth Games final with gold medallist Tom Stalker taking on silver medallist Josh Taylor.

Stalker was dominant in Delhi, but this contest was a much tighter affair. Little separated the two fighters in the first couple of rounds but Stalker's strength proved the difference as, after trailing by two points, he brought it back to win 10-9.

In the light-flyweight final, GB boxer Charlie Edwards eased past Welshman Ben Baker.

Seventeen-year-old Edwards utilised his solid left hook to finish the three-round fight 13 points ahead at 18-5.

Wales' Lynsey Holdaway was no match for Great Britain's Nicola Adams' reach, height and speed in the final of the women's flyweight division.

A flurry of quick punches put two-times world silver medallist Adams up by six points and eventually winning 19-2.

A vicious left hook from GB's Bradley Saunders saw off Scotland's Jason Easton in the second round of the light-welterweight final. Saunders had already established a commanding points lead before the referee stopped the contest.

Antony Fowler could not keep up with GB's Callum Smith in the welterweight final. In a scrappy affair Smith overpowered his opponent with his superior reach, winning comfortably at 15-5.

GB's Anthony Ogogo put in a measured display to beat Wales' Keiron Harding. A couple of neat one-twos and sharp jabs allowed Ogogo to establish an unassailable 8-4 lead, and further cement his place as middleweight number one.

The light-heavyweight contest between Scotland's Sean Finney and Obed Mbwakongo met an arguably premature end. Finney's bloody nose deemed enough for the referee to halt proceedings a few seconds shy of the first round bell.

"I think it could have carried on a bit more," admitted Mbwankongo, before adding: "I think I'll be a better fighter next year."

McCracken added: "This has been an excellent weekend of boxing and a very good test for the men and women on the GB boxing programme.

"There have been some excellent performances in the competition and it will certainly have an influence on the evolution of the Olympic programme next year as we build up to 2012."

Full results from the GB amateur boxing championships:

49Kg - Charlie Edwards (GB) beat Ben Baker (WAL), 18-5

51Kg - Nicola Adams (GB) beat Lynsey Holdaway (WAL), 19-2

52Kg - Tommy Stubbs (GB) beat Andrew Selby (WAL), 10-9

56Kg - Luke Campbell (ENG) beat Iain Weaver (WAL), 23-6

60Kg - Natasha Jonas (GB) beat Amanda Coulson (ENG), 11-10

60Kg - Tom Stalker (GB) beat Josh Taylor (SCO), 10-9

64Kg - Bradley Saunders (GB) beat Jason Easton (SCO), RSC R2

69Kg - Callum Smith (GB) beat Anthony Fowler (ENG), 15-5

75Kg - Anthony Ogogo (GB) beat Keiron Harding (WAL), 8-4

81Kg - Obed Mbwakango (GB) Sean Finney (SCO), RSC R1

91Kg - Simon Vallily (GB) beat Danny Price (ENG), 4-3

91Kg + - Anthony Joshua (ENG) beat Amin Isa (GB), 6-3

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