TEENAGER Jimmy Dean is the toast of Waterside Amateur Boxing Club after landing the national title.

The 19-year-old lifted the novice senior championships at Knottingley Sports Centre after an electrifying, but extremely close final.

After a toe-to-toe contest, the judges had the bout even at 19-all, but Dean was eventually victorious after a count-back.

His stamina was a key factor in the victory - something he has worked tirelessly on with weeks of running road-work in the build-up to the fight.

Earlier in the competition, Dean had showed his punching power to stop a Kent boxer in the Southern Counties final - after he had put on a classy display at Bethnal Green in the previous round.

The national title this year tasted even sweeter for Dean after he had won the Southern and Western Counties titles in 2002, but was unable to compete

in the national finals as he was one month too young.

Coach George Pidgley and sons Stuart and Shaun were unanimous that Dean's title win was a tremendous achievement and proof of his outstanding ability.

It is the first national title for the up-and-coming Waterside club.

Dean, who now has a record of ten wins from 11 fights, said: "I could have boxed better in the final but I was over the moon to come home with the title."