YOUNG Kent boxer Luke Pritchard competes in the National Amateur Boxing Association finals in Liverpool next week.

The 20-year-old welterweight, from Faversham who is a member at St Mary’s ABC at Chatham, earned his place after winning the Southern Counties Championship at the Copthorne Hotel in Crawley, beating local boy Andrew Watson 13-2.

Pritchard said: "It was scrappy against an awkward southpaw opponent, but I was always in control and felt brilliant throughout the fight."

Luke trains under Charlie Rumble and Warren Simmonds, and has gone one step further than last year when he was beaten in the Southern final by fellow club-mate and good pal Ian Hudson.

He said: "I want to go as far as I can in the amateur ranks, but my ambition is to turn pro one day. My Dad David goes everywhere with me and offers advice and support."

Pritchard started boxing at the age of 10, and spent eight years with his home-town club, before moving to Medway two years ago for "better sparring and more opportunities".

His younger brother Alex is also a member at St Mary’s and the pair often train together and do their roadwork around the town.

A former pupil at the Abbey School he was voted Sports Personality in 2001. He also reached the semi-finals of the junior championships in 2003.