By Liam Twomey

A STUDENT is eyeing a spot at the world youth boxing championships after enjoying another superb season in the lightweight division.

Ted Cheeseman, 16, who attends the Priory School in Orpington, boasts a record of 11 wins from 12 bouts which has earned him another two national titles to add to the National Junior ABA Championship and Three Nations gold medal he won last summer.

His supremacy in the junior 60kg category virtually unchallenged, Cheeseman was then given the honour of sparring with members of the Egyptian Olympic team ahead of London 2012.

Now the Fisher Boxing Club switch-hitter is busy preparing for the new amateur season, and says earning recognition as one of the country’s brightest young prospects is his primary aim.

“My season went really well,” said Cheeseman, who benefits from being a member of the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme.

“I only lost one fight and even that one I should have won.

“All the coaches said so, but the judges gave it the other way.

“That was against a Scottish guy called Sam Bull.

“I beat him the year before, so I’d like to have a box-off at some point so I can prove I’m better.

“But my main ambition for this year is to make it to the world championships in October.

“The squad is announced in September.

“I won’t have a chance to fight before then, so they’ll be judging me on my performances last season.

“It would be great to be selected.

“I think I’ve got a good chance, because for the last year no one’s really been able to get near me.”

Cheeseman is studying for a BTEC in sport at the Priory while honing his fighting skills at the Frank Bruno Boxing Academy.

His studies involve a qualification in coaching boxing to children, which he believes will come in useful should circumstances prevent him from reaching the top.

But no such thoughts are entering his mind as he targets a place on the Team GB development squad, the finishing school for many of the country’s Olympic hopefuls.

“I’ve just passed my first year at the academy and, now my season’s over, I’m doing a bit of sparring at lightweight and light-welterweight,” he added.

“My boxing is going well, but my teachers are also pleased with my progress, so it’s all good.

“The BTEC is good because it means if I get injured or don’t make it for whatever reason I’ve got a back-up coaching kids or doing something else.

“But my aim is to make it into the Team GB development squad.

“If I don’t make it this year, I definitely want to be there this time next year.”

Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 346 of Britain’s most talented developing athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond.

Since 2008, the programme has supported 1,000 athletes.

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