VALLEYFIELD Miners Boxing Club starlet Ryan Hanley packed a punch last weekend to take home a national title.

The talented 16-year-old was in action at the Boxing Scotland Schools and Juniors Championships, held at Motherwell’s Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, where he fought for the 2005 54kg belt.

Having won the 46kg junior 2005 category in February 2020, Hanley stepped into the ring against Midlothian’s Adam Gately and, despite suffering with illness in the build-up, showed off his skills to power his way to an impressive victory.

James White, a coach with the club, told Press Sport: “It was some effort from the boy to get there and do it.

“He did really well. His boxing ability was enough and it was a great effort in terms of where he was before it with illness.

“He just couldn’t put two or three attacks together but he used his experience. In the last round, he started to turn it on a wee bit so it was a good performance.

“Hopefully, there might be a chance of the GB Championships for him. I’m not sure if they will hold the GB Championships this year but I think he’d be heavy favourite to go there for Scotland.”

White is, however, hopeful that some bouts may soon be on the cards at a big show in Glasgow for Hanley but was disappointed that no match could be found at the championships for another of the club’s rising stars, Niamh Mitchell.

The 15-year-old, who last year collected the schoolgirl 2006 44.5kg title, couldn’t be found an opponent this time around.