Islington BC’s Jerome Campbell is one fight away from a national title after his victory in the semi-finals of the England Boxing Development Championship.

Campbell snatched a split decision against Army boxer Cpl Burton in the Class B Under-60kg clash at Ipswich Town FC and will now fight for the title this weekend.

He faces Yorkshire representative Joshua Holmes (Eastburn ABC) at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre on Sunday – with the chance to join Islington’s list of national champions.

“I enjoyed the bout and I want to box the best so I wouldn’t have expected anything less at this stage of the competition,” said Campbell, who joined the Hazellville Road club from Finchley ABC in the summer.

“I’m desperate to win my first national title and become one of the boxers in the Islington wall of fame and push on to the Elite Championships later in the season.”

Campbell’s hand speed and unorthodox angles caused problems for his opponent in the first two rounds, although he also used up a good deal of energy.

Burton smothered the Islington boxer as he took control of the final round – but his tendency to lead with his head cost him a point and may well have helped to swing the decision.

Campbell will be the only Islington representative at the finals after team-mates Amy Andrew (Class B Under-57kg) and Mateusz Szczepkowski (Class B Under-91kg) were both beaten by unanimous decision.

Andrew, who was boxing in a four-round championship contest for the first time, gave it everything she had against Karys Artingstall (Army) at Portman Road.

Looking comfortable on the front foot, Andrew opened up and caught her opponent with clean punches – but she held back too often and allowed the Army boxer to edge rounds.

Szczepkowski, taking part in his first contest of three three-minute rounds, made good use of his jab early on, but opponent Jack Bannister (Baker Street) then gained control and his excellent footwork and head movement ensured that he took the verdict.

Islington BC have handed out medals to all the youngsters taking part in their weekly infants class for five to eight-year-olds.

The class has recently been expanded to 24 children – and, due to the long waiting list, will now switch to two nights a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays (4.30pm to 5.30pm).

The coaches – who now include Amy Andrew and Scott Smart alongside Troy Smart and DJ Moore – voted Harry Power as their best boxer of the term.

Gold medals were awarded to Francis Barrett, Frank Palmer, Leo Batson, Julius Tait, Henry Wickham, O’Shea Campbell, Jaycee Stewart-McLeod, Callum McCann, Joshua McCann, Harry Power, Zachary Trumbridge, Keyaan Miah, Ezra Worrell and Darragh Murray.

Freddie Cording received a silver medal for completing his second term in the class, while the first term boxers all received bronze medals.

The latter group were: Adem Sertten, Maddox Pommells, Sami Sertten, Joseph Higham, Kerim Kina, Benjamin Wotten, Robyn Bond, Kaine Khan and Sayvier Maragh.