Keighley youngster Muhammad Ali has punched his way through to the finals of the Royal Navy schools championship.

The 12-year-old, boxing in the 38kg class, overwhelmed opponent Cory Fenwick 9-1 in their semi-final at Bolton.

Fenwick, from the Horden club in Newcastle, had won ten of his previous 11 bouts.

But he had no answer against the speed and non-stop effort of Cleck-heaton Boxing Academy’s Ali.

He now heads south for the final against Coner Crosby in Dagenham on March 7 and coach Keith Tate fancies his chances.

Tate said: “It’s going to take a good one to beat him and they’ll have to be very fit. Muhammad is in your face and always throwing punches – and he’s getting better all the time.”

Ali said: “I enjoyed it and can’t wait for the finals.”

If the Ermysted’s Grammar School pupil wins the final, he will get the chance to fight for England.

Cleckheaton’s other two semi-finalists both met their match.

At 50kg, Hamza Hussain was stopped in the third round by the stronger Lewis Dobson (St Aloysius, Merseyside). And fellow 12-year-old Corey O’Regan was edged out 7-4 by 36kg opponent Luke McCormack (Birtley).

Tate added: “They’ve still done well to get this far and it’s a good learning process for both of them.

“I thought Corey was a bit unlucky because the ref warned him three times in the first half minute for punching below the belt. He couldn’t get going and build up any rhythm.

“It was 2-2 after the first round but then went to 6-2 in the second. I don’t know where they got those points from.

“Corey is a small kid and a lot of his shots probably wouldn’t have been scored.”

This year marks the third year of a successful partnership between the Royal Navy and the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE). Captain of Naval Recruiting Chris Alcock said: “Our partnership with the ABA has proved a real success so far.”