Islington BC light-welterweight Cherrelle Brown made a small dent in Leicester’s triumphant sporting weekend as she retained her England Boxing Elite Championship crown.

Brown held off the challenge of fellow England international Paige Murney (Leicester Unity ABC) to successfully defend the 64kg national title she won last year.

As the top seed in her category, the Islington fighter qualified automatically for the finals weekend at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, where she was drawn to face Nina Bradley (Boston ABC) in the last four.

Brown had defeated Bradley – and also picked up the boxer of the night award – when the pair clashed on an Islington dinner show in December, but started slowly this time.

However, she picked up the pace in the second half of the four-round contest and sealed a unanimous decision against Bradley, who took a standing eight count in the third round.

That victory took Brown forward to a showdown with Murney, who had eliminated the experienced Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Alanna Audley-Murphy in the semi-finals.

Murney made the better start in a cagey opening round, but Brown improved and controlled the next two, catching her opponent with a series of strong combinations.

Although the fourth round was closer, it was the Islington boxer who took a split decision to clinch her second successive national title – and the third of her career overall.

Brown has now been called up to represent England at the Tri-Nations tournament, which takes place in Scotland later this month.

Troy Smart returns to the ring for the first time since his England Boxing Elite Championship defeat on Islington’s dinner show on Friday at the Royal National Hotel, Russell Square.

Smart, who lost to Dale Youth ABC’s Joey Teal in the North West London 56kg final, will be one of several Islington boxers in action.

Chris Stornelli, Lamin Conteh, Mateusz Szczepkowski, Amy Pu, Kervern Kiala, Dillion McDonagh, Ramel Smith, James Costanzo and Aaron Nicely are also lined up to box on the show.

Dinner is at 7.30pm, with boxing due to get under way at 9pm, and a limited number of standing tickets, priced at £20, are available on the night.

For further information, contact Mick Doherty on 07921 724 601 or email ibcmc@hotmail.com