BRIAN Roche believes his current crop of fighters could be the best of the bunch.

The experienced coach has already produced two national ABA champions who fought for Great Britain - but Roche says his ‘third generation’ of boxers could emulate what Jack Steff and George Drinkwater achieved in the past.

Steff was the first to put the Roche Boxing Club on the map, winning both Schoolboy and Junior ABA titles before going on to fight four times for GB - winning two and losing two.

Drinkwater followed in his footsteps, a two-time Junior ABA champion who also fought four times for Great Britain, winning on three occasions.

But Roche, who himself fought for British and Commonwealth titles back in the 1980s and early 90s, says his latest batch of boxers at his Burnley gym - including his ‘Mini Manny’, young Patrick Ennis from Philippines - have the potential to be his best.

“I do think this current bunch I have are the best I have had,” said the 57-year-old. “They have got bags of promise, a lot of quality and if they continue to work hard and improve, they have every chance of achieving and emulating what Jack and George have done in the past.”

While there are no national champions in his camp at the moment, Roche says his fighters’ combined record - 90 wins and just nine defeats in the last 14 months - is an enviable one.

“We are a small club basically punching above our weight,” he said. “The record we have in the last year or so is phenomenal and these lads can go on to achieve things.”

Roche’s promising fighters include the Khan cousins Danny (16) and Bilal (17), 11-year-old James Tansey and Ali Assad, 14, who will all be competing for area and regional schoolboy and junior ABA titles in the New Year hoping to progress to the nationals.

And there is also young Patrick Ennis, the 11-year-old who has swapped the Philippines for Stacksteads.

“What a great bunch of fighters, they all bring something different,” he said. “I am particularly excited about young Patrick, he is our mini Manny Pacquiao! He has that Filipino-style of boxing, he’s a bit cheeky, very confident and has got great technique for someone so young.”

Roche, who has never produced a senior ABA champion, will have Xerk Asprillas, 22, a light welterweight with two KOs to his name, and 23-year-old female fighter Angelica Chmielonicz primed for the championships.

“I’ve never had a senior national ABA champion so who knows, this could be the year. Xerk is a very good fighter, we got him down from a light middleweight to light welterweight. He just needs to believe in himself a bit more.”

Roche is quick to point out that he will not throw anyone in to the ABAs if he thinks they are not ready.

“I am never one to push boxers, I have never done it in the past and I won’t do it now or in the future,” he said. “They will only step in to the ring and fight when I think they are ready. I’m happy to hold them back from the big competitions if I don’t think they are up to it.”

“There is nothing worse than a boxer stepping in to the ring and being totally out of their depth or simply not prepared or ready for it.

“There is nothing wrong with fighters being nervous or lacking confidence, that will come with time. It is just making sure that they are ready.”

Bacup-born Roche, who trained under local legend Paddy Lyons at Bacup Lads Club, has been a coach for the last 16 years and says teaching his fighters the same way he was taught is the perfect way to honour his mentor.

“Paddy was a brilliant coach, he was my mentor and he helped me in my career,” said Roche. “He taught me a lot and what he taught me I am now passing on to the lads.”

In a 31-fight career, Roche fought Chorley’s Carl Crook for the British Lightweight title at Earls Court in 1991 - an explosive fight that won the fight of the year accolade.

Three years previous, he took and lost to Mo Hussein for the Commonwealth title at York Hall. And in between he fought Steve Robinson who would go on to become a world champion before he lost that title to Prince Naseem Hamed.

Despite his long career in the ring and fighting at the highest level, Roche says most the youngsters don’t know too much about his past - and he is happy with that.

“I don’t really talk about my past in the ring,” said Roche. “I would rather concentrate on the lads than on myself.

“In fact one of them said to me recently, ‘Brian, did you ever box!’ I was quite happy with that!”

n Roche Boxing Club's annual show will take place at Byerdon House on Friday, November 16.

For details, contact Brian Roche on 07749 903771.