AMIR KHAN'S shock withdrawal from this year's ABA Champion-ships has handed a reprieve to the man he beat last week, Avalon ABC's Steve Williams.
And the light-welter's unexpected reinstatement means that the North West Counties team to face the Eastern/ Home Counties in Great Yarmouth is an all-Scouse line-up.
Williams was outboxed by Khan last week, but finished the bout on his feet after being stopped on the outclassed rule (23-3). And he is eager to make the most of his unexpected good fortune against Canvey's John Martin.
Merseyside could boast an unprecedented full complement of boxers in next weekend's semi-finals at Preston's Guild Hall - but the Home/Eastern Counties will have plenty to say before that dream comes true.
Wigan's dazzlingly talented light-fly, Craig Lyon, beat Haileybury's James Fowl on his way to becoming national champion three years ago - and complacency would appear to be his most fearsome opponent tomorrow.
It is a different story at fly and bantamweight, though, where boxing brothers Ryan and Liam Walsh stand in the way of Paul Edwards and Nick McDonald.
Ryan holds a victory over Edwards in the junior ABAs, but at the time the Salisbury stylist was struggling with injury and his form last week in disposing of Justin Wilkinson was hugely impressive.
Rotunda middleweight Joe McNally already boasts wins over a Commonwealth silver medallist, Steven Birch, and a European junior bronze medallist, Brian Rose, to reach this stage. Wolvercote's Steve Mullins has no such pedigree, but did score the surprise of the championships last season in stopping Steven Birch at the Everton Park.
After a walkover last week, Tony Bellew, the hottest heavyweight property in amateur boxing, will seek to extend his astonishing 23 contests 22 victories record against the respectable club campaigner Luke Howkins.
Don't miss Monday's ECHO for full quarter-final report
48 kgs: James Fowl (Haileybury) v Craig Lyon (Wigan) 51 kgs: Ryan Walsh (Kingfisher) v Paul Edwards (Salisbury) 54 kgs: Liam Walsh (Kingfisher) v Nick McDonald (Vauxhall Motors) 57 kgs: Marcus Poston (Harwich) v Michael Robinson (Tower Hill) 60 kgs: Duane Phillips (Luton Shamrock) v Stephen Jennings (Tower Hill) 64 kgs: John Martin (Canvey) v Stephen Williams (Avalon) 69 kgs: Pat McAleese (Haddenham) v Joey Selkirk (Rotunda) 75 kgs: Steve Mullins (Wolvercote) v Joe McNally (Rotunda) 81 kgs: Mark Redhead (Kingfisher) v Joe Ainscough (Kirkdale) 91 kgs: Luke Howkins (Pine-wood Starr) v Tony Bellew (Rotunda) 91kgs and over: David Price (Salisbury) walkover.
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