Quartermaine continues development with victory for England in Belfast

Quartermaine was in and out of the ring twice before his bout with all-Ireland champion Mark Moran (Holy Family ABC) as a dispute raged about whether he should be wearing a head guard.

Quartermaine retained his focus, however, coming out on top in a messy fight, which saw Moran struggling to cope with the Leamington boxer’s strength and body punching.

Coach Edwin Cleary said: “I’m not sure Moran in all his experience has ever faced a fighter as relentless as Danny.”

Quartermaine, whose victory was one of only four for England on the ten-fight card, was due to be back in action on Sunday when a Cleary’s select team took on a select side from Coventry University at the Assembly.

However, his was one of several bouts to bite the dust as injuries and illness led to a host of pullouts.

Only three Cleary’s boxers survived the cull, with Jake Finch and Jai Rai facing each other in their finals skills bout.

“These two are ready to go,” added Cleary. “We believe in these two, and others we now have in the squad, to push Danny and Lewis (Williams) to the top.”

Lewis Williams was the third Cleary’s boxer on the card, boxing two-time national champion Kai Hume from Biggins ABC.

Williams made a slow start as he struggled to combat Hume’s southpaw style.

However, he pulled himself back into the contest in the second round with a series of well-timed upper cuts and left hooks.

There was little to choose between the duo in the final round until a big right-hand from Williams forced a count a minute from the bell.

Hume was rocked and Williams went on to dominate the remainder of the round to take the win.