Sarah punching above her weight (From Bury Times)

Sarah punching above her weight

9:00am Thursday 17th January 2013 in Sport By Danny Shepherd

CHAMPION boxer Sarah Dunne overcame the odds to claim a silver medal at a big invitation event in Sweden last weekend.

The 24-year-old Bury ABC fighter, who won the national under-10 bouts novices title in the 57kilos division last year, was part of a Greater Manchester squad to travel to the event in Boras, which featured almost 200 of Europe’s best female boxers.

Despite such a strong field, there were no other competitors registered at her weight and she was forced to move up a division.

But the fast-improving fighter pulled off an impressive coup, beating Boston ABC’s N Bradley – the two-time English national novices champion at 60k – 24-10 on points over four rounds on Saturday.

Dunne went on to lose 16-11 to E Ziegler, of Switzerland, in the final the following day, but her coach, Mick Jelley, believes she showed real bravery to get into the ring.

“She did absolutely brilliantly,” said Jelley. “I know she was really scared going into the first fight. “Sarah had seen Bradley knock a girl out in the novices last year and she was giving away three kilos to her, so she was really frightened, but she beat her easily.

“What made it even more impressive was the fact it was also the first time she had gone four rounds, and, even though she found it hard in the final round, she was not going to be beaten.”

Despite pulling off an amazing victory, Dunne was battered and bruised after the fight, which Jelley believes harmed her chances in the final.

“I know she thinks she would have won easily if she hadn’t had such a tough fight the day before,” said Jelley “Whatever the result, though, she is improving brilliantly. To become national champion and then beat a two-times national champion at the weight above just shows she is getting better all the time.”

Dunne, who has won nine of her 12 fights, will now have a rest before getting back into training, with the under-20s novice championships the main goal at the end of this year.