A NORTHWICH teenager is in the mix to win a national boxing title this weekend.

Mason Warburton, a student at Weaverham High School, has already been crowned under 70kg Cheshire and Merseyside regional champion.

Now the 14-year-old is gearing up for the England Boxing National Junior Championships semi-finals at Robin Park Sports & Tennis Centre in Wigan on Saturday.

Victory would hand him a return to the venue for the final the following day.

He is one of three youngsters from the 12-months-old Superbox CIC club in Winnington to have set out on this year's 'nationals' journey.

Isabella Dempsey, 14, a student at The County High School Leftwich, will be fighting in the quarter-finals this Saturday, having come through the regionals by default because there was no opponent to box.

And Phoenix Frazer, 11, who lives in Northwich but attends Knutsford Academy, is entered into the tournament and awaiting his first fight.

Warburton, who first started recreational boxing when he was nine-years-old, is leading by example, having fought numerous fights already to reach the concluding weekend in Wigan.

Among them, he defeated Evan Atkinson as he exploited his fast jab and body shots to win his regional semi-final contest in Birkenhead.

In the final in Liverpool he won the decision against Louis Ready, displaying masterful head movement and strong counter attacks.

Then at the weekend in the national quarter-finals in Carlisle he defeated Jack Morgan by close decision.

"I don't think anyone from Northwich has ever won the nationals. I don't think we've had a regional championship winner so it's big in my book," said Superbox joint owner and head coach, Steven Bunby, 52.

"He's an amazing person. He's so kind to people. Everyone just thinks boxing is brutal. He is very powerful, he's ripped, and you'd think with someone in that position it would get to their head. It doesn't with him. He's brilliant with the young kids, he's really patient with them.

"Mason's a dedicated young man. Before he goes to school, he runs 5k. He finishes school, does his homework, has his tea and comes to the boxing gym until 9pm."

Warburton's talent has stood out for other reasons on the nationals journey so far.

Bunby said: "He could be boxing kids two years older than him and he's the lightest in the category, coming in not at 70kg but at about 67kg, so he's got a lot of things that could go against him technically but obviously he's good so this is where he's at."

Bunby and his uncle, Tom Bunby, have a history in coaching but set up the non-profit Superbox club last year.

They have 10 youngsters on their books, five of whom currently fight competitively.

For more than eight months the club had no indoor base and the youngsters trained outside 'in all weathers'.

Now they are grateful for being able to rent a ring at Supergym Combat Sports Academy on the Winnington Hall Industrial Estate and are working towards a permanent home.

They have coaches, volunteers, a secretary, a welfare officer and a fundraising officer in place.

"We are most probably the smallest club in the whole of Great Britain, but considering where we've got in a year is unbelievable because we've built ourselves up from nothing," said Bunby, a former Winsford Boxing Club amateur fighter who worked for the British Boxing Board of Control for six years

"I couldn't have done it without all the valuable support of the brilliant coaches, volunteers and small businesses that have helped us along the way.

"If any business would like to help us further, contact our fundraising officer Mike Dempsey by email at mjddempsey@gmail.com."