Bristol's Greg Welling, back from seven months on duty in Afghanistan, has booked his place in the semi-finals of the ABA novice boxing championships.

The 22 year-old Royal Marine defeated Richard Macaulay of St Pancras Club in London on points at his home club Broad Plain ABC in Easton.

Welling outclassed a tough opponent on route to winning 16-8, and his father, former Western Counties champion Mike Welling said: "I always get nervous when he's fighting but it's nothing compared to the worry when your son is fighting in a real war."