Royal Marine Adam Lancey took the crown for the Royal Navy as the first man in the Senior Service to win the National Novice boxing championships.

The Marine from 40 Cdo got better and better through the rounds, saving his best for the semi-final and final.

He punched his way into the final with a first-round knock-out in York, then moved on to Knottingley Arena for the championship decider, where he scored a points victory over his opponent from Durham.

Adam joined fellow Royal Marine Alex Urrutia, of 42 Cdo, at the Welsh National Senior Championships last month in Newport, where both commandos found the opposition hard going.

Adam was drawn against last season’s light welterweight champion, and lost narrowly on points 8-7.

Meanwhile, after an excellent quarter-final victory, Alex found himself across the ring from last year’s English lightweight finalist.

Despite fighting with skill and style throughout, the Royal lost 24-22 – but earned a place in the Wales squad next month in the process.

Mne Jimmy Cusick (1 Assault Group RM) represented Scotland at international tournaments in Norway and Finland, as the precursory rounds to the Athens Olympics competition got under way in earnest.

Jimmy returned from both events with bronze medals, and is now preparing for the European championships this month. The contest is one of three qualifying tournaments for the Olympics.

A bronze in any of the events will guarantee Jimmy a place in the squad.

Fellow 1 Assault Group boxer Mne Mick O’Connell is looking to regain his ABA heavyweight title after already representing England this season.

Mick has also been picked to represent the Navy at this year’s Combined Services Sportsman of the Year awards.

The fine work by Royal Navy team coach C/Sgt Tommy McPhee and his staff is ensuring the Navy squad is up there with the best of British boxing talent, and supplying Combined Services coach POPT Q Shillingford with first-class fighters for the Inter-Services Championships at HMS Nelson this week, on Thursday February 12.

Mne Davey Tang has retired from the ring to concentrate on Tai Kwon Do, and Mne Cusick will be away on international duties, but the Navy will still be fielding a potent squad including Mne O’Connell, England international and ABA finalist Neil Suka (HMS York), Combined Services champion OM Mac MacDonald (HMS Invincible) and Mne Lacey.

But Q warned that the Army in particular is fielding a strong side for the contest, and the RAF “cannot be ruled out”.

The February 12 contest – with the first bout starting at 7.30pm – is hosted in the Gymnasium at HMS Nelson.

Tickets cost £5, and are available from the Nelson Gate, on the door on the night, or by calling the Gym on 023 9272 4151.

HMS Nelson will also be hosting the All England Semi-Finals on Saturday March 20.