Ryan Garner has been called up to the England squad to take part in the European Championships.

The Southampton ABC boxer put in a strong showing at the world championships and came through a selection camp in Bradford to win his place in the under-54kg category of the amateur competition, which takes place in Russia in November.

Before that Garner will travel with England to compete in Ireland.

Garner’s trainer, Gary White, said: “He deserves it. He’s had another good year and this is reward for what he did in the World Championships.

“I knew he had a great chance of getting this call up but what he did in the world championships helped his cause. The coaches were fairly convinced he did enough to beat the Cuban lad who got the decision against him, and if he’d have beaten him he might well have gone on to win a gold medal.

“That’s the way boxing goes sometimes but his efforts and talents have been recognised again and we are all really proud of him.”