MUHAMMAD Ali's recent qualification for the Rio Olympics looks to have inspired his team-mates at Bury Amateur Boxing Club after they claimed a string of titles over the weekend.

Zain Ahmed and Ali Akbar Javid added Greater Manchester schoolboy titles to the club's growing list of honours, while rising star Muavia Nasim won gold for England at the Three Nations Junior Championships.

Ahmed won his regional title the hard way, coming through two fights in two nights, winning both unanimously on points.

The 13-year-old beat Manx ABC challenger Sam Rennie in the semi-finals at Richmond Hall in Rochdale on Friday before overcoming Chris Garrity, of Fit2Excel, at the Lighthouse, Eccles, on Saturday to claim victory in the 46k division.

Akbar Javid, also 13, won through to the final the previous weekend, stopping his opponent, Adam Carter, of Jennings, in the second round of their semi-final in the 52k division.

He then went one better in the final, stopping Travis Pownall, of Sale West, in the opening round of their contest in the 52k division.

There was disappointment for two Bury ABC fighters in the finals, however, as Coan Gildart and Rehman Afzal just missed out on titles.

Gildart was given a bye through to the final of the 44.5k division but had to retire in the second round of his bout against Kai Pennington, of Astley VIP, after going into the fight nursing an arm injury.

Afzal was on the wrong end of a split decision in his final, losing to Joe Crawford, of Sandigate, in the 48k division by the narrowest of margins.

The 13-year-old had beaten Parnell Lees, of Queensway, unanimously on points to qualify.

Elsewhere, 16-year-old Nasim gained a unanimous verdict from the judges in his victory over Scotland's Steffan Murray at the Three Nations Junior Championships in Cardiff.

Nasim will now go on to represent Great Britain at the European Junior Championships in Russia next month.

Bury ABC's Sarah Dunne showed her champion qualities at the Elite ABA Championships in Liverpool over the weekend, putting a brave face on a split decision defeat by Louise Orton, of St Mary's ABC, in the semi-finals of the 60k division.

After failing to make the weight last season, Dunne stepped up a division to compete this year and though she had done enough to book a place in the final.

"Unfortunately the judges did not award me the decision, which I was disappointed about as I felt I won every round," she said.

"In fact, a judge came to my changing rooms after the bout to apologise. He said he had it 4-0 for me winning the bout.

"Nevertheless, I was pleased with my performance and I will not let it get me down.

"I am boxing next week in Holland so I am looking forward to getting back in the ring."

Meanwhile, Ali will hope to build on his victory in the European Olympic qualifiers in Turkey recently when he returns to the ring to fight for the British Lionhearts against the Astana Arlans in Khazakstan in the semi-finals of the World Series of Boxing.