HIGH Wycombe Boxing Club duo Ben Smith and Joseph Molloy are two fights away from becoming national champions after both won their quarter-final bouts at the weekend.

Smith, a national champion in 2012, overpowered Western Counties U60kg title holder Aston Grant by unanimous points in Aylesbury, while Molloy was too good for Callum Coles in the U56kg category.

Molloy was first into the ring in Aylesbury and a fast start gave him the lead, which he never relinquished on way to a unanimous points decision.

Smith then emulated him to keep the Wycombe club’s dream of a national double alive.

Coach John MacInnes said: “I am very happy with both lads reaching the national semi-finals. They both rose to the occasion and put on good performances.

“Joseph wasted very little and his accuracy was superb catching his opponent with clean, powerful shots, and Ben's blistering speed and controlled aggression was too much for his highly respected opponent.”

The semi-finals take place in Portsmouth on Saturday, with Smith taking on John Cooney and Molloy up against Charlie Kenny.

Meanwhile, two more Wycombe Boxing Club members have been selected to represent the Home Counties at a weekend training camp in Sheffield.

James Nugent and Igné Vaitkunaiti will train alongside the GB Development squad, while MacInnes and fellow coach Paul Cook will work alongside the GB coaches to get hands-on experience of what it takes to train Olympic boxers.