Young Carlisle boxer Marc Haughan will step up his bid for a national title this weekend.

The Carlisle Villa Amateur Boxing Club star is competing in the quarter-finals of the senior elite championships.

Haughan, the north west champion, will take on Midlands champion and number three seed Will Smith from Hall Green.

The contest in Barnsley follows Haughan’s success in the pre-quarter-finals in Walsall last weekend.

The young Cumbrian took on Western Counties champion Yves Pereira from The Factory, Gloucester, and claimed a stoppage win.

Pereira started confidently and was on the front foot, forcing Haughan onto the ropes with two and three-punch combinations.

Haughan was countering but nothing significant was hitting the target and Pereira kept the pressure on – yet the Carlisle boxer then cleverly turned off the ropes and made his way to the centre of the ring, where he had room to throw his long backhand.

This changed the bout and Haughan was now in control, a solid backhand leading the referee to take a close look at Pereira. A straight left followed by a right hook and Pereira was now on the ropes.

Haughan was picking his shots well and after another backhand the referee stepped in to issue a standing eight count.

The Carlisle Villa teenager stepped it up and was catching Pereira solidly with both hands, the Gloucester boxer beginning to look unsteady on his feet and he was warned for holding.

Pereira tried to fight back but this left openings for Haughan to counter with some accurate sharp shots.

The second round started with Haughan pressing forward, letting his punches go now with hooks and uppercuts landing to both head and body.

A two punch combination wobbled Pereira and the referee stepped in for another count.

Haughan was nice and relaxed and his punches were sharp and accurate, Pereira was holding for a break but the referee was quick to separate the boxers.

Another two punches landed with venom from Haughan and the referee stepped in waving the bout off to save Pereira from anymore punishment.

Thanks to Jimmy Brennan for the report