Four GB Boxers reach European quarter finals on successful day four in Bulgaria

FOUR members of the GB Boxing squad reached the quarter-finals at the European Championships on a successful day four in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Lauren Mackie (W54kg), Chantelle Reid (W70kg), Isaac Okoh (M90kg) and Damar Thomas (M90+kg) all secured victories to move to within one win of guaranteeing themselves a European medal.

Despite the success, there was disappointment as Patris Mughalzai found himself on the wrong side of a 3-2 split decision against Georgia’s Lasha Gagnidze.

Bantamweight Lauren Mackie got day four off to a stunning start as she ended her clash with Moldova’s Iulia Coroli inside the third round following a brutal body shot.

The Northampton boxer will now have a day of rest before stepping back into the ring against the Czech Republic’s Lenka Bernardova in the quarter-finals.

Mackie said: “I’m happy to come away with the win. I’m into the quarter-finals now and getting into those latter stages is the goal.

“The stoppage via body shot was definitely the highlight of the fight. I started the first round a bit iffy, but I grew into it and, once I found my range, I started to have my success.”

Chantelle Reid followed in her teammate’s footsteps shortly after as she dominated her light-middleweight contest with Denmark’s Ditte Frostholm to secure a 5-0 victory.

The Paris 2024 Olympian and world bronze medallist will now face Ireland’s Evelyn Igharo for a chance to add a senior European medal to her résumé.

Reid said: “That was a good one to get going. I was proud of my jab and using it to find counters. I just listened to my coach throughout and got the job done.

“Every fight I have is good experience. I’d like to box every girl at my weight ahead of the Olympic Games in a few years’ time.”

Closing out the afternoon session was Isaac Okoh. The heavyweight faced a tricky test against Poland’s awkward Alexey Sevostyanov.

However, the London boxer was eventually able to navigate his opponent to earn a unanimous victory and set up a quarter-final clash with Germany’s Kevin Lewbowski.

Okoh said: “He was big, tall, very strong, awkward. I found it hard to get my range initially, but sometimes you have to grind through them.

“I just tried to get my timing right and pick the better-quality shots to get the job done.

“I’ve been flying all year and I’m looking to continue that and come home with another gold medal.”

Damar Thomas was the final member of the squad to earn victory in Sofia today.

The super-heavyweight put in a solid unanimous display against Turkey’s Mucahit Ilyas to tee up a quarter-final contest with Georgia’s Nikoloz Begadze.

Tomorrow, Monday 21st September, five members of the squad are in action on day five of the European Championships in Bulgaria.

First up is Amy Broadhurst, who, at lightweight, will take on Greece’s Olga Pavlina Papadatou at 11:45 UK time.

She will then be followed by fellow lightweight Will Hewitt, who goes up against North Macedonia’s Alen Rustemovski at 13:15.

Closing out the afternoon session in the light-heavyweight category is Dimeji Shittu at 14:00. He faces Greece’s Michail Tsamalidis.

Moving into the day’s evening session, Elise Glynn will be hoping to follow up her memorable win last time out when she goes head-to-head with Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman at 16:45.

World bronze medallist Callum Makin will close out day five for GB Boxing when he challenges Romania’s Marian Alexandru Buleu in the middleweight contest at 18:00.