SUCCESS is the name of the game for a young boxer from Drumchapel who was not only selected to be a part of the Scottish national team but was also recently crowned British champion.

Leo Church started boxing at the age of eight after going along to Antonine Boxing Club in Dalmuir with his older brother Kian.

James Hilton, a coach at the club, explained that when Leo was around 11-years-old he began winning tournaments, something that has continued to this day.

Now 15, Leo’s successes have not gone unnoticed as he was selected to join the country’s best boxers when he became part of the Scottish national team earlier this year.

Leo told the Post that the decision came as a surprise as he “wasn’t getting his hopes up” due to his age.

He said: “It was a bit of a shock. I wasn’t really getting my hopes up that much because of how young I was but when I actually got selected it was brilliant.”

In June, Leo competed at the British Championships in Barnsley.

The competition involves Scotland, England and Wales and sees the home country - which was England this year - put forward two of its best boxers.

Leo took on one of the English champions on Saturday, June 11, coming out on top. That meant he would go on to fight the winner of the other match on the Sunday.

The youngster took on the Welsh champion, bringing home gold.

Leo explained that he had been to the British Championship before but this year he had his eyes set on winning.

He added: “I’d been post-Covid to the British Championships but at that time again I was still young and it was more of a learning experience so going back this year, I was definitely going for gold.

“It was amazing, there’s a lot of work that goes into it and for it to pay off it’s just incredible.”

Leo trains five times a week as well as well as continuing his studies at school.

His current focus is the European Championships which is set to take place in Italy in September.

Despite Leo’s win being an individual triumph he highlighted that boxing is a team effort.

James explained that he is “super proud”of Leo and that this win also helps motivate others at the club.

He said: “Super proud. It’s probably my biggest achievement, to coach a British champion. That’s the highest level I’ve ever got to.”

The youngster also has an incredible support system in his corner at each of his competitions.

Leo’s mum Charlene said she couldn’t put into words just how proud she was after his win at the Championship.

Charlene said: “The run-up to this tournament was very intense. I knew Leo had worked very hard to be in the best condition he could be, both mentally and physically. He had been to the British Championships before Covid and won bronze but that wasn’t good enough for him, he always longed for a gold and number one win.

“Across the weekend I was really excited but nervous at the same time because I knew how much this meant to Leo, and also how much it meant to his coaches and his team mates at Antonine.

“I simply can’t put into words the feeling I had when Leo had his hand raised in that final and was named as the 60kg Junior British champion.

“It was a very emotional time for me and his dad. All our friends and family love watching from home and we know he is special with a raw talent for this sport. It meant the world to Leo to win that tournament and gave him that extra little push to the European Championships in September.”