Fifteen members of GB Boxing including nine Commonwealth Games medallists selected for European Boxing Championships in Sofia
FIFTEEN members of the GB Boxing squad, including nine boxers that won medals for England at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, have been selected to compete at the forthcoming European Boxing Championsihps in Sofia, Bulgaria, 15-26 September 2026.
It will be the first senior continental championships hosted by the European Boxing Confederation since it was established in 2023 and will feature action at 10 weight categories each for both men and women.
Welterweights Sacha Hickey (W65kg) and Patris Mughalzai (M65kg), along with heavyweight (M90kg), Isaac Okoh, and super-heavyweight (M90kg+) Damar Thomas, are among those selected and the four Londoners are looking to build on the gold medals they won last time out at Glasgow 2026.
Sacha Hickey said: “Winning gold at the Commonwealth Games was a really special moment for me, and I’m excited to carry that momentum into the European Boxing Championships.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the ring so soon after competing in Glasgow and now having the chance to test myself against some of the best boxers in Europe. I want to carry on where I left off, keep building on my recent form and performances and hopefully get myself another gold medal.”
“I know the level will step up in Bulgaria, and I’ll be facing some of the best boxers in Europe, but I feel ready for the challenge. I’ve been really active this year at different tournaments and I’m confident I can use everything I’ve learned to my advantage against whoever is in front of me.”
Romford’s Dimeji Shittu, who won a Commonwealth Games silver at light-heavyweight (M80kg), will be hoping to go one better in Sofia, where he will be joined by middleweight (M75kg), Callum Makin, who is making his second appearance of the year after shoulder surgery following the superb bronze medal he won at the World Boxing Championships in his hometown of Liverpool in September 2025.
Wigan born twin brothers, Will and Paddy Hewitt have been selected at lightweight (M60kg) and light-middleweight (M70kg) respectively. The final selection from the GB Boxing squad is Manchester’s Abdul Burton, who gets the nod at bantamweight (M55kg).
Reece Readshaw from Middlesbrough has been selected to compete at flyweight (M50kg) by England Boxing and will travel with the GB Boxing group, which includes England’s lead national coach, Amanda Coulson.
Alongside Hickey in the women’s line-up are four teammates that also made the podium at the Commonwealth Games. Silver medallists, Ruby White from Dorset and Derby’s Chantelle Reid will box at flyweight (W51kg) and light-middleweight (W70kg) respectively.
They are joined by Northampton’s Lauren Mackie, at bantamweight (W54kg) and middleweight (W75kg), Mary-Kate Smith from Shrewsbury, who both won bronze at Glasgow 2026.
The final GB Boxing selections are Solihull’s Elise Glynn at featherweight (W57kg) and Amy Broadhurst who will compete at lightweight (W60kg).
Broadhurst has enjoyed success at previous iterations of the European Championships, winning lightweight bronze in Alcobendas in Spain in 2019 and gold at light-welterweight in Budva, Montenegro in 2022, and will be looking to maintain her strong record in the continental championships.
Amy Broadhurst said: “I am really excited to be selected for the European Boxing Championships. I’ve been European champion before, so I know exactly how important of a competition it is and what it takes to compete at this level and I’m looking forward to getting back in there and testing myself against some of the best boxers in Europe.
“It’s another step in the right direction for me and my development after coming back to the sport at the start of the year, with LA 2028 the ultimate goal. I’m focused on taking every opportunity to improve, perform and keep moving towards that.”
The travelling group of 17 boxers is completed by 2025 World Boxing Championship silver medallist, Mary Asquith from Bridlington, who has been selected by England Boxing to compete in the non-Olympic women’s heavyweight (W80kg) category.
GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken, said: “We are coming off the back of a successful Commonwealth Games so this a great opportunity for the boxers to keep building momentum and perform well on the international stage.
“The European Boxing Championships is a tough competition that will provide another good test for all of the boxers and give us a clear idea of how they are developing as we look forward to next year when the Olympic qualifying campaign will get underway.”
The 15 boxers from the GB Boxing squad and the two selected by England Boxing, will all compete in England vest at the Championships when the action gets underway on 17 September 2026.
The full team is:
* Selected by England Boxing and not a member of the GB Boxing squad.
| Weight class | Boxer | Age | Hometown |
| WOMEN | |||
| Flyweight (W51kg) | Ruby White | 19 | Trowbridge, Dorset |
| Bantamweight (W54kg) | Lauren Mackie | 20 | Desborough, Northampton |
| Featherweight (W57kg) | Elise Glynn | 24 | Solihull, Birmingham |
| Lightweight ((W60kg) | Amy Broadhurst | 29 | Dundalk |
| Welterweight (W65kg) | Sacha Hickey | 22 | Eltham, London |
| Light-middleweight (W70kg) | Chantelle Reid | 28 | Derby |
| Middleweight (W75kg) | Mary-Kate Smith | 22 | Shrewsbury |
| Heavyweight (W80kg) | Emily Asquith* | 23 | Bridlington |
| MEN | |||
| Flyweight (50kg) | Reece Readshaw* | 22 | Middlesbrough |
| Bantamweight (M55kg) | Abdul Burton | 20 | Manchester |
| Lightweight (M60kg) | Will Hewitt | 24 | Wigan |
| Welterweight (M65kg) | Patris Mughalzai | 24 | London |
| Light-middleweight (M70kg) | Paddy Hewitt | 24 | Wigan |
| Middleweight (M75kg) | Callum Makin | 22 | Liverpool |
| Light-heavyweight (M80kg) | Dimeji Shittu | 24 | Romford, Essex |
| Heavyweight (M90kg) | Isaac Okoh | 23 | Grays, Essex |
| Super-heavyweight (M90kg+) | Damar Thomas | 21 | Ealing, London |
The results of all the bouts involving boxers from Great Britain will be posted at www.gbboxing.org.uk and on GB Boxing’s social media channels:
- Instagram: @gbboxing
- Facebook: GBBoxing