Burton takes silver as GB Boxing return from Grand Prix with three medals

GB Boxing’s squad have returned from this year’s Czech Grand Prix in Ústí nad Labem with three medals with Abdul Burton (M55kg) leading the medal haul by claiming silver.

The other medals were earned by Callum Makin (M75kg) and Clinton Achusim (M90+kg), with the former competing for the first time in over nine months following a lengthy injury lay off. 

On his way to reaching bantamweight Burton secured a confident unanimous victory over Slovakia’s Tibor Katona before recording a devastating first round knockout versus France’s Izaya Gaucher to book his place in the gold medal match.

Facing Jadumani Singh Mandengbam of India in the final, in a close fought contest it was the Indian who came out on top via a 4:1 split decision leaving Burton to settle for silver.

Elsewhere, Callum Makin marked his long-awaited return to competition at the tournament with a bronze medal. The Liverpool born middleweight had not competed since earning his bronze medal at the 2025 World Boxing Championships and upon his return sealed a 3:2 victory in his opening bout.

As a precaution however with major competitions on the horizon, due to a cut sustained in that opening bout, Makin was withdrawn from his semi final clash with Slovakia’s Ladislav Horvath meaning he would leave Czechia with bronze. 

The third and final GB Boxer to earn a medal was Clinton Achusim, who claimed bronze on his debut competition for GB Boxing. The super-heavyweight officially joined the World Class Programme (WCP) as a member of the Academy squad at the start of May. Achusim reached the semi-finals with a 4:1 split victory before being eliminated at the semi-final stage after being beaten unanimously by Armenia’s 2024 Olympian Davit Chaloyan. 

Three other boxers competed at this year’s Grand Prix: Vivien Parsons (W57kg), Ella Thompstone (W65kg) and Joe Turner (M65kg) with all failing to reach the medal stages on this occasion.