YOUNG Kent boxer James Chiericato has fallen at the final hurdle in his bid to become a national schoolboy champion. The 13-year-old Canterbury Boxing Club member lost on points to Kettering's Michael Maguire in his final at the National Schoolboy Championships in Barnsley.

Chiericato, who lives at Whitstable and attends the town's Community College, was said by Canterbury coach Dave Kenward to be "gutted" but he has no doubts the youngster will be better for his experience.

He added: "No-one was more disappointed than James himself, but he had no reason to be. e was just beaten by a better lad on the day.

"He did catch Maguire with some good left hooks and a couple of good uppercuts but it was not enough against an opponent who really was a bit special."

Chiericato, coached by Roy Parry and Kevin Place, was hoping to become Canterbury's first national boxing champion for nearly a decade., and in the first round he tried to