The Royal Navy has its first national boxing champion in 15 years – and the only Service national champion this year.

The RN Boxing Association are celebrating after Mne Mick ‘The Irish Hammer’ O’Connell won the ABA Heavyweight title at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London – one of the most famous boxing venues in the world.

Mick took on England international Michael Stafford, ranked No.2 in Great Britain, who fights in the colours of the Kirkby Amateur Boxing Club, Liverpool.

The marine’s non-stop action style took its toll on the Northern champion as O’Connell kept Stafford trapped on the ropes, unleashing fast and accurate combinations to the head and body.

O’Connell’s winning performance, which produced an exciting and occasionally brutal final, went to the Serviceman by 15 points to 12.

It is 27 years since two Naval boxers reached the national finals in the same year – and OM Neil ‘Bazooka’ Suku was the second Naval man in action at Bethnal Green, taking on another Liverpool fighter, Great Britain No.1 David Price from the Salisbury Amateur Boxing Club.

The 6ft 8in super-heavyweight civilian champion was made to work to keep his title as Suku bombarded him with relentless attacks.

After a hard-fought contest, Price took a points win of 20–15 over his Naval opponent.

Navy Coach POPT Q Shillingford said: “Neil has taken great steps to reach this far in this year’s national championships – you must remember Suku has only had three senior contests, and all of them have been against the best in the country.

“OM Suku is a great prospect, and I can see him achieving a lot for Navy sport.”

Away from the English finals, Scottish internationals Mne Jim ‘The Thin Destroyer’ Cusick and Mne Kev ‘The Baby-Faced Assassin’ Green performed well in this year’s Scottish championships.

Green took on two area champions in the national quarter-finals, beating the first on points and the referee stopping the second bout in the second round.

In the semi-final Green took on Scottish champion and Commonwealth medallist Paul Hasty in four rounds of non-stop action, with both boxers delivering combinations and heavy blows.

In the end Green was considered unlucky by some not to get the decision.

Mne Jim ‘The Thin Destroyer’ Cusick boxed against Scottish international and champion Dave Murphy at welterweight.

The Scottish champion narrowly won on points, but not before Cusick had put him through four rounds of ferocious boxing, both fighters throwing hard and heavy blows.

As a result of their efforts, both Marines are expected to get their Scottish international call-up in the near future.

Meanwhile, at the Welsh championships, Mne Dave ‘The Hurricane’ Tang impressed the national coach so much that his efforts have gained him an opportunity to represent Wales in their next match against Ireland.

Tang is overjoyed with his selection as he prepares for his international debut.

With the boxing season drawing to a close, the Navy team are preparing for their last two events.

The first is a five-bout box-off against the Army at the Café Royal in London later today, an event sponsored by The Sun newspaper and televised by Sky Sports, who were planning to beam the signal out to the fleet in the Gulf.

The second event will see the team travel to Scotland to take on a national squad.

Q said: “The results have been tremendous. The lads have had a very hard and tough season taking on the best boxers from all over the country.”