A student turned Teaching Assistant from Rossett School in Harrogate has retained his fighting belt for the third time.
PJ Stubbs, 19, took part in his 16th fight at the Royal Hall in Harrogate, bidding to retain his ABA Yorkshire open age heavyweight belt.
He beat Joseph Wilkinson, 19, in a unanimous points decision.
PJ, who is now a member of staff at Rossett having completed his BTEC in Sport last summer, said: It was great to be able to defend my title and retain the belt again.
It was a hard fight – three lots of three-minute rounds – so I was really pleased with the result.
I’m looking forward to having a short break before my next challenge which is the second stage of GB trials and I’ll be training hard for that.
PJ started boxing aged 14 – but his boxing career was thwarted at an early stage when he dislocated his hip in a skiing accident. A year later, he was back in the ring as a member of Harrogate Boxing Club, based in Starbeck.
Rossett’s Director of Sports Studies, Mark Fenton, said: We’re incredibly proud of PJ and the hard work he has put in to his training.
He showed a lot of discipline when he was working towards his exams alongside competing in the ring. That determination has continued since he joined us as a Teaching Assistant and we’re very pleased that it is paying off in all areas of his work and sport.