Southwick light-welterweight Neil Wray is in confident mood ahead of the biggest fight of his career tomorrow against Lee Beavis in the ABA Senior Championship semi-finals at Crawley.

Wray is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn and fellow Sussex boxer Michael Alldis by winning the title.

The 21-year-old said: "I boxed for England as a schoolboy against Ireland and won. I also got to the semi-finals of the Junior ABAs which was my biggest achievement and I was unlucky in that.

"But the ABAs are the big one and I am not going to let an opportunity like this go to waste."

Wray recently came out of the Army but has been splitting his training between his former regiment in Tidworth and Southwick ABC.

He said: "I am in excellent shape and have had some top class sparring with the Army boys Steve Briggs and Nicky Burchett. I have been working with my brother Mark at Southwick and my old Army trainer Barry O'Rourke.

"I am feeling really confident and I am really up for it."

Mark Wray, Neil's brother and trainer, said: "I would have money on Neil winning. Beavis is not boxing that well and he can be hurt."

Possessing a fearsome punch, Wray beat Torbay southpaw Steve Yates 15-10 in the quarter-final having defeated clubmate Aaron Balmer on points in the Southern Counties preliminaries and stopped Southampton's Andrew Tew in the final.

As the only Sussex fighter left in the draw, Wray should have plenty of support as Crawley ABC host a packed show of top class boxing.

He added: "There are a load coming up from my old regiment, some of my mates from Shoreham and also some of the lads from West Hill ABC in Hastings are supporting me too."

Neil has the right background to do well. His dad, Terry, had a record of 14 wins from 15 bouts as an amateur while brother Mark and Danny have both enjoyed success with Danny turning pro for a short while, a path Neil would consider.

Crawley have light-middleweight Anthony Young boxing Adam Martin (Foley) and Danny Murry against Simon Hopkins (Horsham) in supporting bouts.

Tickets are available on the door at Crawley Leisure Centre.

West Hill's Jason Brooker made it third time lucky when he beat Billy Buckland (Repton) on Saturday to clinch his place in the National Schoolboys Championship finals.

Boxing in Bristol, the 13-year-old won his class 2, under-36kg semi-final 8-2 on points to avenge two previous defeats by Buckland, including one at this stage of the competition last season. Brooker now meets Northern Counties winner Mchael Hadfield (Headland ABC) in the final.