VAUXHALL Motors ABC's Paul Butler has struck gold in a prestigious Danish-based international tournament, the Hancock Box Cup, for the second successive year.

Representing the West Lancs/Cheshire ABA, the 15-year-old claimed the 37.5kg crown at the Resen Sports Hall, Skive, by defeating old foe Tommy-Joe Jenkins of Warrington's Team Phoenix.

The two youngsters have now met seven times in various competi -tion finals and Paul, who has proved victorious in all but one of the contests, came out on top this time with a 19-10 unanimous points win.

Vauxhall Motors ABC head coach Peter Phelan said: 'They're both very talented boxers and there's not a great deal between them. But more often than not, Paul seems to have the edge when they meet and digs deeper.

'There aren't many opponents who get the better of him on more than one occasion.

'The first round started in a cagey fashion which you would expect from two opponents who have faced each other several times but Paul soon started to draw Tommy in and catch him on the counter punch.

'By the second round, Paul really had Tommy on the back foot and was controlling the contest from the centre of the ring, and in the third, his extra strength and fitness really shone through.'

The gold-medal performance in Denmark bodes well for Paul's preparations for the National Schoolboy Championships which take place in the New Year.

Phelan said: 'Paul was unlucky to be on the wrong end of a bad decision last year when he was pipped at the post by Hartle -pool's Cosgrove, but we're hoping that he'll have another good crack at the title this time out.'

Vaux -hall's Buster Exell was also in action in the Hancock Box Cup but fell at the first hurdle against a Danish opponent.

Phelan said: 'It was a close contest that could have gone either way, even though Buster gave away 18 months in age, which isn't allowed in the UK, and plenty of experience.

'Buster looked a little sluggish for the first couple of rounds and although he came storming back in the third, he was edged out by a majority decision.'

Super heavyweight Matty Pollard of Vauxhall Motors ABC is taking part in the Senior Novice quarterfinals in Great Yarmouth tonight.

Meanwhile, Vauxhall's Matty Fagan will compete in the National Association of Clubs for Young People Championship Class A semi-finals in Rugby on Saturday.