PAUL O’Reilly took another step closer to glory with an impressive display in the senior England Boxing Development Championship 75-81kg pre-quarter-finals.

Barrow ABC’s O’Reilly dominated over three rounds against Yorkshire qualifier Jake Bray, of Freedom ABC, to score a unanimous decision win last Sunday.

That result came off the back of a long wait to get into the ring and Barrow head coach Jeff Moses was full of praise for O’Reilly.

“He boxed at range, used his height and reach to his advantage, and didn’t have to get involved,” said Moses. “He totally controlled the three rounds.

“We left at 9am and he didn’t box until 5.30pm, so there was all that nervous energy and you have to balance all that out, but he boxed lovely.”

Ethan Holt is through in the 50-52kg junior class, with his opponent again being unable to box for medical reasons.

Moses was grateful for Barrow professionals Liam Conroy and Ross Cooksey coming to support their old clubmates too.

“It’s an extra little plus for the likes of Paul and Ethan that they’ve been able to support them,” said Moses.

“They’ve both got bouts coming up as well, so to take a day off from training is great.”

O’Reilly, Holt and Jim Braithwaite, who represents the North West in the Channel Islands with Mason Strickland this weekend, have been given byes to the semi-finals in Liverpool on October 21.