ONGAR is home to one of the best young boxers in England.

The honour belongs to Chris Smith, a 15-year-old who lives in Queen's Terrace.

He is the newly-crowned junior champion of the England Amateur Boxing Association, at 54kg.

Recently, the schoolboy boxer took time out from his GCSE studies to travel to Liverpool and win the title.

Chris learns his craft at the West Ham gym in Plaistow, London. His whole family were at ringside in Merseyside to see him make good use of that training, as he won four bouts on points to claim the title.

In front of a packed house, he boxed his way to victory by six points to one in the final. It was an impressive display.

Sister Jenna, 23, said: “I was crying afterwards, I was so happy. We all go wherever he fights and we get very nervous. He's the best in England at his weight.”

Now Chris has won his first national belt after being in the sport for six years, he is thinking about competing on the biggest stage in all amateur boxing: the Olympic Games in 2012.

Reflecting at home after his achievement, champion Chris said: “I want to box for England as many times as I can. The final was not a hard bout for me, but I was really nervous. He was a brawler whereas I'm more of a back-foot fighter. I don't have any bumps or bruises.”

With that sort of confidence, combined with performance, the young admirer of Floyd 'Money' Mayweather could yet fulfil his dream, and then turn professional.

Today (Thursday) Chris is in Edinburgh to fight for England in a Three Nations competition against Scotland and Wales, so the dream could be that bit closer.

This dedication to boxing has its costs, however.

“I don't get to go out much and it can be hard to juggle studies with training," Chris said.

"But I do a lot of work at school during the day."

Inside the ring or in the library, this is one youngster with what looks like a formula for success.