HAIDHER Riaz is a knockout success after landing a national novice boxing title.

The talented 15-year-old won a series of stunning victories to win the English Junior Novice ABA title in Essex.

What made the success even more remarkable was the fact that he only teamed up with his coach Glynn Ward five months ago.

Now the Mount Carmel High School pupil could compete in the Four Nations Championships before concentrating on next year’s ABA junior finals. “We’re not too sure what our next step is going to be,” said Ward, coach at Sharples Police Amateur Boxing Club, Haslingden. “Haidher has had a lot of fights in a short space of time. We could go for the Four Nations but we will have to wait and see.

“My feeling is to take him out of action for a couple of months and work on a few things.”

Haidher has been boxing since he was nine-years-old but only joined the Haslingden club in July.

Ward added: “Haidher came to the club and we had a look at him and decided we could work with him and put him forward for the Junior Novice ABAs.

“You could tell he could box but he was still a bit rough around the edges but he had that commitment to improve.”

Fighting in the under 70kg category, Riaz won the East Lancashire title — fighting twice on the same night — before winning the North West Counties title. He then beat comprehensively beat the the North East champion 9-0 before recording victories over the Midlands and Yorkshire champions.

But winning the national title was the sweetest all, especially as there were big hopes for his opponent.

“The lad Haidher was fighting had the Olympic coaches in his corner and big things are expected off him. He has had a lot of coverage and is being tipped as one for the Olympics. But Haidher beat him convincingly.

“In fact, he won all of his fights pretty easily and never looked in any trouble.”

Ward believes his young fighter has the ability to fight at a higher level but admits there is still plenty of work to do.

“What I like about Haidher is that you tell him to do something and he does it. He is very dedicated and committed and with his own natural ability and what we are teaching him, he is getting better.”

He added: “Haidher certainly has got what it takes to get to the next level but there is a lot of hard to put in yet. But he has a great abiliy to learn and listens to instructions which is making him a better fighter.”

Haidher’s dad Mohammed Riaz added: “Every coach who has seen him is impressed with his ability. He has good footwork and defence. He is also committed to his training.”