MANCHESTER coach Jimmy Lewis has hit out at England's boxing selectors after his ABA champions suffered a Commonwealth Games snub.

Lightweight Anthony Crolla and welterweight Denton Vassell were left broken-hearted after boxers from Birmingham and Liverpool were picked at their weights for Melbourne.

Lewis, their coach at Fox ABC in Ancoats, believes the England selectors should have staged box-offs to decide the places. "I am disappointed that Anthony and Denton have not been given a chance to challenge the two lads selected," he said.

"There should have been box-offs in the weights where the ABA champion was not a straight choice for selection. Otherwise, what was the point in bringing forward the ABAs?

"My lads might have lost in the box-offs but at least their destiny would have been in their own hands."

Paul King, the ABA's chief executive, said the selectors had chosen boxers with a proven international record.

As a consolation, Crolla, 19, and Vassell, 21, are almost certain to represent England in the British championships in February. Tweet