After eight operations to correct his feet, Jamie Aramayo is set for debut in national boxing final this weekend (From Community Newsgroup)

Jamie to contest National Schoolboys Final at Manchester Boxing Centre of Excellence in Gorton

9:46am Thursday 3rd March 2011 in Latest sport Exclusive By Christopher Terris Taylor

JAMIE Aramayo is set for the biggest fight of his life on Saturday.

The 12-year-old boxer is preparing to take on Luke Connors in the Class One 52kg National Schoolboys Final at the Manchester Boxing Centre of Excellence in Gorton, with the chance to represent his country on the international stage.

This would be an excellent achievement for any young lad, but Jamie’s story is all the more remarkable for the difficulties he has had to overcome.

Born with a condition called ‘talipes’, what used to be called ‘club foot’, Jamie was forced to undergo a series of eight operations throughout his childhood just to enable him to walk.

It has been a long and difficult journey for the Great Sankey High School pupil but he has stunned family and doctors with his ability to overcome his condition and go toe-to-toe with some of the best young boxers in the country.

“At the time very little was known about the condition,” said Jamie’s father, Peter.

“His feet were pointed to the sky and turned backwards.

“We contacted a surgeon in Warrington, who had never operated on the condition before, but who decided to operate on Jamie.

“It was a gradual process of eight operations, with Jamie also having to wear steel stirrups for two years while sleeping to help shape his feet.

“At first he was clumsy on his feet and people were telling me that he would never make it as a boxer, but I always saw the benefits for him.”

Taken on by Phoenix Fire Amateur Boxing Club at the age of eight, Jamie had been told by other gyms that he would never have the footwork required to make it in the ring.

But through his own hard work and determination, Jamie is proving them wrong.

“They missed an opportunity back then, as his commitment is second to none and he trains day in, day out,” said Peter.

“We were sparring the other day and he caught me with a brilliant backhand.

“I’ve got the biggest black eye at the moment and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”