Tim Hale will attempt to emulate some of the biggest names in Bristol boxing when he contests the final of the ABA Senior Novice Championships this weekend.

West of England champion Hale, 22, is the latest in a long line of boxers from the Empire Club in Easton to have reached an ABA final.

And he hopes to match the achievements of previous winners Adrian Stone and Lee Haskins by beating Londoner and pre-tournament favourite Anthony Nelson, from Horsley, in Sunday's final at the Festival Hall in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

Stone won the same title more than a decade ago, while current British super-flyweight champion Haskins landed a Junior ABA crown before turning professional in 2003.

Should Hale come out on top, he will have gone one better than former Empire stars Chris Sanigar, Glenn Catley, Adrian O'Connor, Daniel Roberts and Sayed Ali, all of whom were beaten finalists in their time.

Current form suggests Hale is the man to beat.

West of England champion in the 54-57kg weight division for the past three years, the Bristolian has blazed an impressive trail en route to this season's Novice final.

He launched his campaign when out-pointing Devonport's Michael Vanderputte to win the West title in Torquay last month.

Hale then caused an upset by beating London-based Christou Ioannou in the quarter-finals, staged at Broad Plain Boys Club in Bristol, before out-scoring Royal Marine Mark Hobkirk in the semi-finals at the Earlsfield Gym in West London last Sunday.

Empire secretary Martin Bisp believes the Bristolian can go all the way.

"I think Tim is a real prospect and he did really well to beat two of the tournament favourites to reach the final," said Bisp.

"He is a clever, thinking boxer who has totally dedicated himself to the sport.

"He's usually up and out of bed at five in the morning to run before working all day and then training at night. He deserves all the success that comes his way and it would be real feather in his cap if he could win an ABA title."