JOSHUA Holmes is a third of the way to a rare feat.

The 19-year-old apprentice mechanic from Eastburn Boxing Club won the Yorkshire & Humberside open-age 60kg title challenge belt last November in Hull and has already made a successful first defence in Harehills, Leeds.

He defeated Bradford opponent Jake Pollard, dropping him to the canvas with a head shot before the Sedbergh Boxing Club member had to take a standing eight count.

Holmes, from Earby, switched his attack to the body in the second round, again dropping Pollard to the floor, with the referee stepping in to stop the contest two minutes into the round.

Eastburn BC coach Naz Jalil said: "It is virtually unheard of for anyone to successfully defend the challenge belt three times but Joshua is on his way.

"We also hope that he will be involved in the ABA Championships in May or June."

Meanwhile, fellow Eastburn boxer Zain Ul-Abdeen has been successful in Leeds.

He won the Yorkshire quarter-final of the Junior ABA Championships' 53-57kg division in the second round at the Irish Centre and has his semi-final this weekend.