Delicious Orie becomes third Team GB Boxer to book spot at Paris 2024 after reaching super-heavyweight final in Poland
GREAT BRITAIN’S Delicious Orie put in a performance to match the occasion to become the third member of Team GB to earn a quote place at Paris 2024 for boxing as he reached the super-heavyweight final at the European Games in Poland.
Competing for the fourth time in Nowy Targ, Orie faced Bulgaria’s Yordan Hernandez Morejon in what was yet another tricky opponent for the 26-year-old.
Despite this, the Brit was able to showcase his talents and boxing craft throughout the bout to earn a unanimous points victory.
With a place in Paris and a silver medal guaranteed, he will now box for gold on Sunday 2nd July against Azerbaijan’s Mahammed Abdullayev at 14:00pm UK time.
An emotional Orie said: “It’s a dream I’ve always had and now I’ve got it. Every single day I wake up I tell myself I’m going to be an Olympian and today is the day.
“It would mean everything (to win gold at European Games). Hard work pays off and throughout this tournament my opponents have put me to the test and that’s why this means so much to me because they are the very top.
“To go out there and mix it with the best and then win? I can’t put it into words.
“The Olympics is all I think of. When I’m with family, when I’m training, even if I’m doing the most mundane task, it’s always at the back of my mind that I have to qualify for the Olympics and we’re here today and we’ve done it.”
There was some disappointment however on semi-finals day as both Charley Davison and Rosie Eccles, who secured Olympic status earlier in the week, were both defeated as well as Kiaran MacDonald, who will have to wait a little longer to join his teammates in earning a spot in Paris.
Lowestoft’s Charley Davison was the first GB Boxer in the ring on semi-finals day. The bantamweight became a two-time Olympian following victory in Wednesday’s quarter-final action.
This time out she went head-to-head with a fellow double Olympian in the form of Bulgaria’s Stanmira Petrova.
On this occasion, it was her opponent who came out on top across the three rounds to reach tomorrow’s final, leaving Davison to settle for bronze.
Davison said: “It’s all experience for me and that was a new opponent. I’ve qualified so I was maybe a bit too relaxed in there, but we go again. Win or lose you’re always gaining something.
“I’ve learned some lessons whilst I’ve been out here. I’ve learnt how I can adapt my style for example, and also just to take in the atmosphere and the occasion. It’s my first European Games and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
Second into the ring was Rosie Eccles. After making her Olympic dream a reality last time out against Ireland’s World and European champion, Amy Broadhurst, the Welsh boxer faced another tough test, this time against Tokyo 2020 gold medallist, Busenaz Surmeneli.
In a fiercely contested bout, which on another day could have gone Eccles way, it was Surmeneli who did enough according to the judges to progress to the welterweight final via a 4:1 split decision.
Eccles said: “I’m gutted. I wanted that gold medal. Obviously, I’ve qualified but I’m a winner and I thought I’d done enough.
“I’m a bit deflated right now but when I sit back and reflect over the next few days, I’ll recognise that I’ve done what I came here to do, and I’ve got that all to look forward to next year.”
The final boxer to compete in the afternoon session was Kiaran MacDonald.
He was facing France’s 2022 European Champion, Bilal Bennama, for a chance to not only improve the colour of his medal but to also earn qualification for next year’s Olympics.
Unfortunately, though, it was the Frenchman who was awarded victory by the judges via unanimous points decision.
MacDonald will have another opportunity to secure his place at Paris 2024 at next year’s world qualifiers.