THE Standard has awarded its March sports grant to a 16-year-old Malmesbury boxer who aims to fight his way to the Olympics.

Joe Hughes, Malmesbury Amateur Boxing Club's first national champion since forming in the 1970s, received it from Stuart Milsom of Moore, Allen and Innocent, the Cirencester and Northleach-based estate agents who donate the monthly £100 cheque.

Inspired by watching fight scenes in The Power Rangers and other television programmes, Joe took up tae-kwon-do at the age of five, eventually becoming a black belt, representing England and winning the national under-nine championship.

Noticing he was better with his hands than his feet, his father, Joe Hughes snr, took him to the club to try boxing.

Immediately taking up boxing, he now trains three times per day, five days a week.

Tony Stannard MBE, lightweight novice finalist Graham Hill and British and Commonwealth Lightweight Champion Tony Falcone coach him.

During eight years of boxing for the club, he has won five West of England Boxing titles and the 2005 national schoolboy title.

In 2006, he beat eight previous national champions to become Junior ABA Champion and represented England in the Four Nations Championships, winning gold and being named Boxer of the Event.

Ending 2006 by becoming NACYP National Champion, he was named Best Boxer of the Championships.

Joe jnr, whose heroes are Oscar de la Hoya and Mike Tyson, has already sparred with top boxers Danny Barje and Commonwealth Games champion Jamie Cox.

He belongs to Britain's Olympic Profiling Squad and attends Sheffield's Institute of Sport to train for the 2012 games.

His father believes he can qualify for the 2008 Olympics en route to going professional.

Saying physical strength and versatility were his son's greatest assets, Joe snr said: "He's small for his weight and a lot of people thought he wouldn't make it but he's very competitive.

"If he can keep his mind focused, he could go all the way. He's got a gift."

The Standard's sports desk chooses each recipient of the award. So please, no direct applications to Moore, Allen and Innocent.