Paddy McCarthy was the pick of the bunch as Islington BC’s four England Junior Boxing Championships entrants all booked their places in the London finals.

The 15-year-old progressed with a second-round stoppage in the North West London tournament at Hayes Working Men’s Club, while Islington team-mate Alfy Andrews gained a unanimous points win.

Jack Sinnott worked hard for a majority verdict, while Malachi Borrel was not required to box at Class B Under-66kg, gaining a walkover to the London stages.

McCarthy’s performance, in the Class B Under-60kg section, was the most eye-catching as he fought back to beat Ruislip’s J Mitchell, who began well with fast two-handed combinations.

By the end of the first round, constant pressure from the Islington boxer was slowing his opponent and in the second he landed a vicious backhand flush on Mitchell’s chin to bring the contest to an end.

Southpaw Andrews dominated his Class A Under-60kg clash against M Delaney (Cuban Boxing Academy), landing a string of straight punches and long hooks before his opponent – who had been persistently warned for a loose headguard – was disqualified in the final round.

Sinnott’s Class A Under-52kg bout against D Redmond (Finchley) was a closely-contested affair, but the Islington fighter did enough to edge the decision.

Islington’s Troy Smart returned to the ring for the first time in six months at the same venue, taking on Diamond Oginni (Stonebridge) in the North West London open senior novices tournament.

Boxing behind tidy and efficient straight punches, Smart always looked in control and had too much variation for Oginni as he took a unanimous points decision.

McCarthy was also in action at the Stevenage ABC open show the following night, where he was defeated on a unanimous decision by the home club’s Charlie Day.

His brother, 14-year-old Christy McCarthy, also suffered a loss by unanimous decision to H Mehmood (MK Victors), while Christopher Ward impressed in a skills bout on the same show.

Islington’s national finalist Tyrone Negasi triumphed by unanimous decision against home fighter Callum Cleary at Saturday’s Luton Boxing Academy show.

And Ernie Swinhoe, boxing for Islington for only the second time, forced a third- round stoppage in his contest with Josh Caulfield (Swale Gloves) at Leytonstone Community Centre.