Boxing: Postman Craig Astbury delivers win on his return to the ring

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http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276370/Article/images/28976113/13454141-large.jpgCRAIG Astbury showed class is permanent when he made a successful return to the boxing ring on Saturday.

The 48-year-old former amateur champion from Blythe Bridge hadn't had a serious boxing bout since 1994, but was a comfortable winner on points at the King's Hall as part of the 'Firepower' event in Stoke.

Astbury, who is a postman in Shelton, was fighting to raise money for the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Having claimed an easy win in his comeback, he's getting in training for another fight in September, again for children's charities.

Astbury said: "It all came back to me when I was sitting in the changing rooms. It was a bit daunting at first, but I just went with the flow and once I got in the ring I got straight back into it."

Although Astbury hasn't boxed regularly for two decades, opponents underestimate him at their peril. He has spent his time away from the sport keeping in shape while mastering the art of kickboxing.

He is a Midlands kickboxing champion who holds two martial arts black belts – and is part of a successful sporting household.

His wife Marie is also a kickboxing champion as well as a boxer who only lost her unbeaten boxing record last month.

NEWCASTLE fighter Brian 'Barney' Stokes is through to the semi-finals of the English Schoolboy championships.

The 14-year-old was the best in his age group last year when he won the title. He's continued his progress to reach the last four this year, booking his place with a quarter-final victory over Brad Coley of Birmingham at Telford.

Stokes, who fights for Stoke Staffs ABC, is now preparing for a huge weekend in Portsmouth next month. The semi-finals are on Saturday, April 2, with the final the following day.

The youngster is taking nothing for granted, but no one who has followed his meteoric progress will be writing him off.

His efforts continue the remarkable success of the Stoke Staffs club in the national schoolboy finals.

Greg Lunt won a title in 2013, and Stokes's older brother, Tom, was beaten in the 2014 final.

Opponents be warned. Stokes is nicknamed Barney by his club-mates because they reckon being hit by him is like being walloped by Barney Rubble's club.

He has certainly impressed the Great Britain selectors who called him up for a Tri-Nations competition last year.

TUNSTALL'S Tom Ward is also through to those national semi-finals in Portsmouth after a hugely impressive quarter final win.

Ward, aged 15, fights for the Tom Lowe club in Kidsgrove. He did them proud by beating his Manchester opponent on a unanimous points decision in their fight last weekend in Grantham.

Coach Tom Lowe said: "I have put Tom up a weight to 51-52 kilos but he is eating well, training hard and seems a lot stronger. He was up against a good opponent in his quarter final but was too strong for him.

"It wasn't an easy fight because the opponent had very good footwork so Tom had to cut him down and work hard to win a real non-stop, corner to corner fight."