Teenage Carlisle boxing star John Joe Carrigan has been picked to compete for England in the European Championships.

Carrigan, who won gold for the nation in the EUBC Junior Championships last year, will be out to repeat the feat at the Youth Championships next month.

The Border City Amateur Boxing Club prospect is part of a 12-strong squad picked by England for the event in Croatia.

Carrigan, from Todhills, will compete in the under-71kg category with the competition being staged in Porec from April 2 to 16.

He impressed England Boxing coaches once again after a recent camp held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

The young Cumbrian’s promising rise in boxing continues after a string of national and regional titles – and, last year, victory in the EUBC Junior Championships in Romania.

On that occasion, he marked his England debut in European competition by defeating Albania’s Koci Amhed in the Under-70kg final.

Carrigan and the rest of the squad will now meet for a series of preparation camps ahead of the latest championships in Croatia.

National coach Amanda Coulson said of the 12 boxers selected: “Ten of the 12 already have international bout experience from last year’s programme, either as a Junior or a Youth.

“Two of the boxers are new to the England squad but showed enough in the selection camp to warrant their spot and they’ll join the team this weekend as preparation gets underway.

“Six first-year boxers and six second-years make up the ‘dangerous dozen’, whose potential shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“This team are more than capable of performing really well and taking a podium spot.

“It’ll be down to the boxers and their club coaches to work together with the England coaches, throughout the next five weeks, to aid their development and progression towards unlocking their potential.”