JAMES Richardson dream of an amazing fourth national title ended in heartbreak on Monday night.

The Millbrook youngster had breezed into yet another national final following an impressive win against Dagenham's Dean Smith.

But problems making the 57-kg (nine-stone) weight limit meant he looked sluggish from the first bell against current junior ABA champion Gary Sykes, from Leeds.

After a difficult opening Richardson, from the Shirley-based Golden Ring club, gamely fought his way back into contention during an exciting first round.

Yet the 17-year-old admitted he felt drained and his legs were betraying him as Sykes upped the pace to secure a third-round stoppage.

Golden Ring head coach Stuart Gill later revealed Richardson had been forced to lose 4kgs (nine pounds) in the week proceeding the big fight.

He said: "When you're fairly skinny anyway, losing nine pounds in a week is a huge ask.

"James has massive potential and is an extremely fit lad, but you must never forget that boxing is a sport which you've got to live - that's one of the reasons it's such a tough sport.

"You just cannot turn up at weekends and hope it will all be okay. James is capable of fighting at 57kgs, but he has to live nearer the weight.

"He came down and was able to do it on the way to the final, but when you are fighting the top boys in a national final, you need to have that extra-edge and James didn't quite have it.

"But I'm sure he will come back and learn from this."

On Friday night in Manches-ter, Golden Ring's other great star, Tony Hill, will also be aim-ing for a fourth national title.

Hill, 16, is the reigning jun-ior Olympic champion and rated one of the best pound-for-pound amateurs in Britain.

Hi fights in the heavier 71kgs super-middleweight division and Gill said he should have no problems making the weight.

"Tony should only give himself about one kilo to lose in the last week, which should not be a problem," he said.

"He is fighting a lad called Trevor Crew form Manches-ter, who won the national title at the weight below last year.

"Apparently he is a come-forward fighter rather like Mike Tyson and that should suit Tony okay."

Millbrook-based Hill is known for his impressive skills and combination punching.

Around his hectic training programme, Hill is currently doing a CITB brickwork apprenticeship at Southamp-ton City College to give himself a back-up trade.

Lecturer Ian Bartlett praised the young boxer's dedication. He said: "Tony is such a determined student, not only with his boxing, but he also wants to succeed in his CITB brickwork apprenticeship.

"It is encouraging that he puts so much effort into both his boxing and his studies."

Having struck gold earlier this year in the junior version, Hill hoped he will be ready to make the step up to the full Olympics in Athens in 2004.

"I would love to make it to the Olympics which gives me two years to get into shape and luckily I will just be old enough to enter.

"Having already competed and won the junior Olympics it'll my next goal to aim for."