IT was seventh heaven for a string of local boxers in the Schoolboy Championships over the weekend.

Jack Lloyd, Ibrahim Shah, Lee Mitchell, Andrew Fleming, Thomas Jones, Sahir Iqbal and David Morris all booked their place in the quarter-finals after being crowned North West regional champion in their respective divisions.

Some had an easier passage than others, with Bury ABC ace Iqbal, who hails from Farnworth, receiving a walkover win against Newbury and Farnworth’s Luke Steventon.

Lloyd, Mitchell, Fleming and Jones had to fight twice over separate days at Cedar Mount High School in Gorton to book their place in the next round at the Reebok Stadium.

Pool of Life prospect Lloyd won majority decisions in both fights against Kane Nightingale (Roche) and Benjamin Gordon (Bridgewater Salford).

Mitchell, from Amir Khan’s Gloves ABC, also received the majority verdict in victories over Tyrone Jones (Bridgewater Salford) and Ricki Lyon (Wigan).

Fleming, of Astley VIP, shone with a unanimous decision against Mohammed Askary (Preston and Fulwood) and Jonathan Brown (Leigh) while Jones, of Leigh ABC, beat Nathan Swift (Astley VIP) and Colm Conway (St Johns).

Astley VIP teenager David Morris emerged victorious against Louis Smith (Bredbury Stockport) while Ibrahim Shah (Gloves) received the majority decision in his clash with Connor Joyce (Egan’s).

There were defeats for Curtis Young (Newbury and Farnworth), Yasar Iqbal (Bury), Osman Aslam and Ellis Waugh (both Gloves) and David Morris (Astley VIP).