Gold in just 40 secs for outstanding Jaya

Jaya Kalsi proudly displays her tri-nations gold medal

JAYA Kalsi, one half of a very special double act at Edwin Cleary’s Leamington gym – Serena Mali is the other – has won her second junior tri-nations title on the spin.

And the incredible 14-year-old did it in double quick time.

In the 48kg final in Cardiff on Saturday, Jaya halted the host nation’s Lacey Dalling (Portmead and Blaenymaes) in 40 seconds.

Three stiff jabs were all it took. Lacey was given a standing count after the second knocked her had back on her shoulders and the bout was halted when the third thudded home.

Jaya, who has lost only two of 28 contests, now travels to Bosnia for the European Junior Championships which start on June 21.

She’ll look to bag another gold for England having won the tournament last year.

Sadly, Serena, also 14, won’t be making the trip. She was controversially outpointed in the 46 kg semi-finals of the English championships.

“The girls are unreal, they are not normal,” former pro Edwin Cleary said. “I think if she continues on the trajectory she’s on, Jaya could become the country’s most decorated female boxer. I really believe that. She hasn’t lost in two years.

Edwin likened Serena’s style to former featherweight champ Naseem Hamed who, like Cleary, was trained by Sheffield legend Brendan Ingle.

“I believe Jaya will be the most decorated English boxer and Serena will be a game-changer, like a Ben Whittaker,” he said. “I think she’ll have mass appeal – people will tune in to watch her.”

There’s always a danger that junior boxers’ commitment to the sport will wane as they mature and develop new interests. Cleary, however, believe both teenagers are in the game to stay. That’s thanks to the gym’s success.

He added: “Through boxers such as Lewis Williams winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal and Danny Quartermaine winning the IBF European title as a pro, they can see their future in the gym. They can see themselves building their dreams.”