Norfolk's Nathan Dale went down fighting in the Junior ABA semi-finals, narrowly losing out to Sheffield's Steven Barnes on a contentious decision. The 16-year-old from Kingfisher, boxing at 60kg, went into the bout, held in Bristol, full of confidence and went about weighing up his opponent in the first round, at the end of which he was only 2-1 down.

Norfolk's Nathan Dale went down fighting in the Junior ABA semi-finals, narrowly losing out to Sheffield's Steven Barnes on a contentious decision.

The 16-year-old from Kingfisher, boxing at 60kg, went into the bout, held in Bristol, full of confidence and went about weighing up his opponent in the first round, at the end of which he was only 2-1 down.

In the second round Dale came into his own and really took the fight to his opponent.

Barnes walked out for the second and straight on to a right hand from Dale, which dropped him to the canvas and for which he received a standing eight count from the referee.

Dale was clearly in the ascendancy and went to work on his opponent, forcing him to touch down on the canvas on two separate occasions - both times the referee failed to give Barnes a standing eight count, allowing him to box on.

If Barnes had received another standing eight count in the same round the bout would have been stopped. Three standing eight counts in the bout would also have meant and end to the fight for Barnes.

Needless to say Dale, pictured above, had got himself back in front by the end of the second round and was one point ahead at 5-4 into the last.

Dale was on top again in the third round but was finding it difficult to pin down Barnes, a tricky southpaw who tended to let his hands drop.

At the end of the bout the judges had scored the bout 7-7 and sadly Barnes was given the decision after countback 17-15, despite Dale having thrown by far the more punches.

“Nathan took the decision on the chin,” said Kingfisher coach Glen Saffer. “It's disappointing to lose in that way but Nathan will be back and he's already been back in the gym training hard.

“He will still be eligible to box in next year's competition and he'll be out to claim the title.”

Meanwhile, Norwich Lads' Danny Perry also met his match at the semi-final stage as he was beaten by Birmingham's D Lawler at 50 kg. Perry lost to Lawler 10-5 after four rounds.

Lawler, a national champion, just had the edge over Perry, although he didn't have it all his own way, Perry landing some good shots himself. These two boys, having boxed off before, have plenty of respect for each other.

Norwich Lads ABC are holding an open tournament at the T/A Centre, Aylsham Road, Norwich, on Saturday, May 12.

Boxing starts at 8pm, £10 on door or ring 07810886528 for advance tickets.