A BOXER from Leytonstone showed he could pack a punch when he became a national champion on Sunday.

Michael Amoo-Bediako, 20, demolished Jordan Berry of Runcorn Amateur Boxing Club, stopping him in the third round of the 60kg weight division final of the National ABA Class A Novice Final at Elmbridge Sports Centre in Hainault.

In a fine display, Amoo-Bediako forced two standing eight counts before the referee stopped the bout and the East Ham Amateur Boxing Club fighter was crowned national champion.

Amoo-Bediako’s route to the final included victories over Alan Smith (Dagenham Police Community Boxing Club), Aundrey White, Toby Leonard, J Raval and Stuart Thomas (Wessex Amateur Boxing Club).

As if claiming a national title was not enough, the young boxer was cheered on by Olympic gold medalist and the new British super-middleweight champion James DeGale, as well as the former Commonwealth middleweight champion and ‘People’s Champion’ Michael Watson.