Boxers return from Balkan tournament with four medals

WOMEN from the GB Boxing will return from this week’s Balkan tournament in Bulgaria with four medals, including three gold.

Charley Davision, Shona Whitwell and Hannah Robinson were all crowned champions of their respective weight divisions on the final day of action in Sofia, whilst Jodie Wilkinson had to settle for silver.

Finals day got off to a flying start when Tokyo 2020 Olympian Charley Davison sealed the team’s first gold as she beat Uzbekistan’s Uktamova Nigina via unanimous decision in the bantamweight contest.

Having previously boxed at flyweight since joining the programme in 2020, Davison looked impressive at a new weight having also won her semi-final clash with Scarlett Delgado of Canada unanimously.

Up next and competing in her third bout in as many days was St. Ives’ Shona Whitwell.

Having confidently beaten both Vladislava Kukhta and Johanna Huttuen unanimously on her way to the lightweight final, she delivered the same outcome to Donjeta Sadiku, sealing her first gold medal since February’s Bocskai.

Hannah Robinson entered the ring for the first time since joining the squad earlier this year and she made it a debut to remember as she won welterweight gold by beating Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova via split decision (2:1) in her only bout in Sofia.

A clean sweep wasn’t to be on finals day when light-middleweight Jodie Wilkinson was unable to get the better Mavluda Movlonova of Uzbekistan in her first outing since reaching the Commonwealth Games quarterfinals in August, forcing her to settle for a silver medal.

Tori-Ellis Willets and Elise Glynn were also in action in Bulgaria this week, but both lost their opening preliminary bouts, the latter putting in a strong performance against Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Irma Testa of Italy.