Head coach Mark O’Reilly believes that the ‘sky is the limit’ for Luke Ring after the New Astley Boxing Club fighter was crowned England Boxing National Development champion at the weekend.

Having clinched the Eastern Counties title last month, Kentford-based Ring got the better of Everton Red Triangle’s Gabriel Alexandru Minca in a tough semi-final on Saturday.

And that was followed 24 hours later by a victory in the final at the expense of Shinwari Niamat, who was representing the Jawaid Khaliq Boxing Academy.

O’Reilly, who has coached Ring for several years at The Racing Centre in Newmarket, said: “Luke can be anything he wants to be. He has got a lot of natural ability and talent.

“He’s not someone I have to constantly chase to make sure he’s doing the work, I know he’s doing it. He’s a coach’s dream.

“It’s hard to know how good he can be, but he’s got so much potential, and the sky is the limit for him.

“He’s only had 13 bouts, so just think how good he will be when he’s had 30.

“A lot will depend on what he wants to be and how far he wants to take it, but he lives and breathes boxing. He’s a real scholar of the sport, and a boxing person.

“I’m a believer that you get the rewards in life if you put the work in, and Luke is doing that.”

Ring had to dig deep in his semi-final against Minca, who has been schooled at a well-renowned club on Merseyside.

“In many ways, the semi-final was Luke’s final,” added O’Reilly.

“When I saw the other lads in the draw, he was the one we wanted to avoid. Everton Red Triangle is a proper club, and the kid was very good, with high standards.

“The kid came straight at Luke. It was tough, but he dug in and kept his discipline.

“Some lads would have definitely crumbled, but that was probably the best I’ve seen Luke box. He boxed really well on the back foot, and he definitely produced the more eye-catching shots.”

And while it was by no means an easy task, the final was a bit more of a straightforward affair.

O’Reilly said: “He was up against a decent boy, but Luke boxed to order.

“He did what he needed to do, and definitely won all three rounds, even though one of the judges somehow disagreed.

“It’s another bout where Luke has boxed out of his skin, and he never gave the opponent any encouragement.”

Meanwhile, Ring’s club-mate Abdul Bojang was defeated in his semi-final bout against White Hart Lane’s Maksymilian Semenyshyn.

But while the result did not go his way, O’Reilly is hopeful Bojang can use it as a learning experience.

“Abdul was up against a lad with more experience. This was just his third bout, whereas the other lad had fought in 10,” said O’Reilly.

“That’s what it came down to, but I’m massively proud of him for getting to where he’s got to.

“He’s still an Eastern Counties champion, and hopefully he can take the whole experience in and learn from it.

“I’m sure he will become a better boxer for it.”