Two more top titles for Serena and Jaya

Serena Mali…the best in England and “fight of tournament” winner

EDWIN Clearly’s Leamington Spa gym is certainly riding on the crest of a wave.

And on Saturday the champagne corks popped again after Edwin – one of the game’s larger-than-life characters, a man with a real fighting pedigree – celebrated two new national champs spawned by the sweat-shop.

Remember the names of the two girls in question – Jaya Kalsi and Serena Mali. They are destined for a very bright future.

At Guildford, Jaya, aged 13, claimed her second English national championship. She also took home the best boxer of the tournament trophy.

Jaya gained her crown the hard way.

In the quarters, she beat Eva Brookband (Gladiators ABC), stopped unbeaten K Foster (Barum ABC) in the semis and, in the final, proved too much for Newquay’s former champ G. White.

That’s music to my ears – a fighter who really had to graft for her moment of glory. In some cases, boxers have made it all the way to finals courtesy of byes.

Jaya Kalsi…best in England and best boxer winner

England boxer Serena, aged 14, celebrated her third win in the England national championships and also collected the fight of the tournament trophy. She, too, had a long road to glory.

Through the tournament stages, Serena beat Yorkshire champ C. Dunn (Sheffield City) in the pre-quarter-finals. Serena beat Dunn in Yorkshire.

Next up was the N May, from JCS ABC, the Merseyside champion. Serena, beat May in Liverpool. In the semi-finals last weekend, she scored a  second round stoppage over E Spencer (Sudbury).Then came the fight of the tournament against fellow European medallist, Ruby Took (Crowle).

Serena cruised to a 5-0 win to become England boxing schools champion and the winner of her second pair of golden gloves at 51kg.
Serena and Jaya are now waiting on tri-nations in June, with the European Championships in August

Proud Edwin Cleary said: “With Jaya and Serena’s achievements over the last three years, I’m hoping it will bring more female boxers into boxing and our new gym.”

Leamington really is producing champ after champ. Maybe there is some special quality in the famed spa water, after all.