Former professional Mark Snipe is helping Steve Reed prepare for his National Senior ABA Championships quarter-final bout with Greg Lee tomorrow.

Reed, a heavyweight from Whitehawk ABC, beat Felix Booker (Hove) in the Southern Counties finals.

This week he has sharpened for the clash with the Western Counties at Butlins, Minehead, by sparring with Snipe.

Reed's coach, Gary Emins, said: "Steve wanted some good sparring before the weekend.

"I don't know much about his opponent, other than he got to the quarter-finals last season as a light-heavyweight. Steve is quietly confident and will be looking for another win."

Light-welterweight Neil Wray, of Southwick ABC, is preparing for his quarter-final clash with Steve Yates of Torbay ABC.

Wray, 21, has recently come out of the army and has been splitting his training between the Southwick club and his old base at Aldershot.

He has sparred with Nicky Burchett (Welsh ABA) and Stevie Briggs (English ABA). Briggs was runner-up in the finals of the ABAs last season.

Wray stopped Andrew Tew (Southampton ABC) in his Southern Counties final.

Southwick and Whitehawk have shows coming up. Southwick's will be at Worthing Leisure Centre on March 15 with boxers from Hove, Crawley and Whitehawk. Tickets are available from the leisure centre.

Whitehawk host their first show for four years, and the first since changing their name from Brighton ABC, on April 5 at Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre. Tickets are available on 07759 080977.