GB Boxing has rolled out its squad of ten pugilists, six men and four women, for a jab at Olympic glory. They’re set to duke it out at the Olympic qualifying event in Busto Arsizio, Italy, from 4th to 11th March 2023. It’s a shot at the big leagues: the Summer Olympics in Paris!
Get this: a whopping 59 slots for Paris 2024 are up for grabs in Italy, attracting boxers from all corners of the globe. The International Olympic Committee is playing referee here, dubbing the event the ‘1st World Qualification Tournament’.
Remember last summer’s Europe Qualification Tournament at The European Games in Krakow? That’s where GB Boxing’s Charley Davison, Rosie Eccles, and Delicious Orie punched their tickets to Paris. But hold on, there’s still more fighting to do.
Bangkok, Thailand, is hosting the final showdown from 26th May to 2nd June 2024. That’s the last chance saloon for the boxers to land a spot in Paris.
The men’s team features some familiar faces and new blood. Kiaran MacDonald, Jack Dryden, and Taylor Bevan are back in the ring, hoping for a knockout performance this time. Meanwhile, Patris Mughalzai, Lewis Richardson, and Patrick Brown have earned their stripes with some impressive displays, including at the recent “World Boxing Cup: GB Open” in Sheffield.
Over in Sheffield, Mughalzai and Brown bagged gold, while Richardson snagged silver, narrowly missing out on the top spot to European Games champion Nikolai Terteryan.
The women’s lineup is equally impressive. Savannah Stubley, Elise Glynn, Shona Whitwell, and Chantelle Reid are all set to throw their hats into the ring. Stubley and Whitwell clinched gold in Sheffield, Glynn got silver, and Reid’s bronze-winning performance included a third-round stoppage that surely caught the selectors’ eyes.
Cindy Ngamba, a ‘sparring partner’ in the GB Boxing squad, will be fighting for the IOC Refugee Team. Interestingly, she’ll bunk with the British team, sharing both accommodation and coaching support.
GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken, commented on the team’s selection, noting the difficulty in choosing fighters for such significant events. He stressed the importance of form and fitness in their decision-making, acknowledging the challenges of Olympic qualification in boxing.
WOMEN:
- Savannah Stubley
- Weight Class: Light-flyweight – 50kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Lynemouth, Tyne & Wear (Empire Boxing)
- Elise Glynn
- Weight Class: Featherweight – 57kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 2
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Solihull (West Warwicks ABC)
- Shona Whitwell
- Weight Class: Lightweight – 60kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 3
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Cambridge (St Ives ABC)
- Chantelle Reid
- Weight Class: Middleweight – 75kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Derby (Kode Red)
MEN:
- Kiaran MacDonald
- Weight Class: Flyweight – 51kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Sunderland (Sunderland ABC)
- Jack Dryden
- Weight Class: Featherweight – 57kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Newcastle (Birtley ABC)
- Patris Mughalzai
- Weight Class: Light-welterweight – 63.5kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Hillingdon (Powerday Hooks ABC)
- Lewis Richardson
- Weight Class: Light-middleweight – 71kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Colchester
- Taylor Bevan
- Weight Class: Light-heavyweight – 80kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Country: Wales
- Hometown (Club): Eastleigh (Roose Boxing Club)
- Patrick Brown
- Weight Class: Heavyweight – 92kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Country: England
- Hometown (Club): Manchester (Moss Side Fire Box)
IOC Refugee Team:
- Cindy Ngamba
- Weight Class: Middleweight – 75kg
- Olympic Places Available at Qualifier: 4
- Team: IOC Refugee Team
- Hometown (Club): Bolton (Halliwell ABC)