KEIGHLEY'S Ibrahim Nadim has come so close to becoming an ABA junior cadet champion.

He was only beaten on a split decision by Doncaster's Connor Kelsall (Tom Hill) in the 44kg male final at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield last Sunday.

Ibrahim's coach Mike Jelley (Bury ABC) said: "He is down in the dumps and just had one of those off days – no-one likes losing and there were 20 others like him among the junior cadets – but he has been invited to England training a week on Saturday back in Sheffield at the English Institute of Sport.

"In fact, he was earmarked for training even before the final took place but Connor kept running away in the final and just caught him with a few shots as Ibrahim came to him to unload.

"Maybe he would have been better standing in the middle of the ring and waiting for Connor to come to him, but it is all experience."

Boxer and coach also went to Ponds Forge the previous day for his semi-final, only to discover that he had been given a walkover.

"We didn't entirely waste our day," added Jelley, "as we were able to watch the other semi-final and some of the other fights but the car parks were solid on both days with 600 to 700 people watching the boxing, and people also coming to swim."

Ibrahim's England training call-up apart, there was some more good news for his cousin Muhammad Ali, who has been confirmed as England's No 1 at 52kg.

His ABA quarter-final is scheduled for Friday, April 24 at the Liverpool Echo Arean, with hopefully the semi-finals and final to follow on April 25 and 26.