Jimmy Brennan hopes Carlisle Villa ABC teenager Marc Haughan’s national success will help to inspire other youngsters at the club.

Haughan, 15, put the disappointment of having both his quarter-final and semi-final opponents pull out behind him, as he beat Dagenham Police & Community Boxing Club’s Sonny Flack in the National Development Championship U70kg final last Saturday.

In a dominant display at the Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury, Haughan began well and landed a double backhand to the head of Flack at the end of the first round, with the referee stepping in to give a standing eight count.

And as the Villa lad continued to control the tempo of the bout, another backhand from Haughan in the third round saw the referee again step in to issue another standing eight count.

Flack did manage to stay in the contest until the end, however, all five judges were in agreement, awarding Haughan the victory by an unanimous decision.

“Marc was just too strong for the guy,” admitted Carlisle Villa head coach Brennan.

“He stuck to the game-plan and it worked really well. He has been working really closely with Tony Dunn in the gym recently, doing a lot of one-on-one sessions, and it all came together for him.”

Brennan wants other boxers at the club, based behind Currock Road, to attempt to follow in Haughan’s footsteps.

He said: "Hopefully, it will help to bring others on and it encourages them to work that little bit harder, although they are already working very hard at the moment.

"Hopefully, seeing the rewards on offer gives them another little incentive to keep working hard."

Villa spent their 2017 close-season improving their gym facilities, with the work helping to provide the club with new changing facilities. While, ahead of their 2019/20 season, Carlisle United used the recently-renovated gym to stage training sessions.

The Villa also played host to former world champion Robin Reid and Joe Egan, Mike Tyson’s former sparring partner, this August.

The club’s attentions are now switching to their home show at the Crown and Mitre Hotel next Friday.

With a limited number of tickets available on the door, call Brennan on 074145 80011 for tickets or more information.