BUDDING champion boxers of the future got their hands on a world title belt when a hometown hero returned to his roots.

Liam Conroy learnt his trade in the spit and sawdust environment of Barrow Amateur Boxing Club.

Conroy is now a world professional title holder, but the BAE Systems employee lives just a stone’s throw from the club’s Brook Street base.

And when the 24-year-old was invited by his former coach Jeff Moses to bring his recently-earned WBC World Silver Youth champion belt to a Barrow ABC training session he didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Conroy was swamped by up-and-coming young boxers, keen to get an autograph, a photo with his WBC belt, and some tips and advice from Barrow’s first world champion fighter.

“It was quality. I loved it,” said Conroy, whose next fight is a British Light Heavyweight title eliminator against Tomi Tatham at Manchester Arena on September 24, on the undercard of the Anthony Crolla versus Jorge Linares world title bout.

“The kids were asking me some tricky questions and there was some tidy kids showing me their favourite shots,” added Conroy.

“I took everything on the pads, but I’d only just come back from a holiday in Benidorm so it was hard work and I was sweating a bit!

“I trained for an hour afterwards on the pads as well. It was good to see everyone and have a craic and that.

“The place was heaving. There were keep-fitters in there as well as boxers so it was a really good atmosphere.

“The kids loved the belt. It was a bit of a surprise to me. When Jeff (Moses) asked kids if they wanted their photo taken I was thinking they’re not going to care about having their photo took with me but they loved it.”