By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

Tony Cesay swapped the England vest for the land of his parents at the Wythenshawe Forum today - and it would have been hard to find a prouder boxer.

Cesay, captain of the famous Repton club in Bethnal Green, sported the green and white colours of Sierra Leone as he outpointed Malaysia's Shuhairi Hussain in his first match in the welterweight division.

After representing England as recently as last year's World Amateur Championships in Belfast, Cesay switched his allegiance to the war-ravaged west African nation where both his parents were born.

Cesay quickly assumed the role of boxing ambassador. He neglected his training schedules and sparring sessions to spend hours clinching sponsorship and equipment for the nation's six-strong boxing team to go to Manchester.

"I just wanted them to come and enjoy the Commonwealth Games," Cesay said.

"Everything is in disarray in Sierra Leone at the moment and all the money is going into the wrong pockets.

"There is so much talent but people just are not focused on the sport side of things.

"Winning a medal here for Sierra Leone could make a huge difference."

Cesay lives in Beckton where he is a print worker but spends much of his time running a Golden Gloves boxing programme for disadvantaged local children.

He said: "My mother told me one day that she wanted to see me representing Sierra Leone before I stopped boxing.

"Now I feel blessed that I came this way because I never saw it before. When I boxed for England I used to complain and I got everything given to me on a plate.

"Now I am representing a country where they do not have boots or shorts or gloves. Once we can sort things out I think sport in Sierra Leone can be great."