GB Boxers return from Boxam with eight medals, with Kayla Allen winning gold

GB Boxers have returned from this year’s Boxam tournament in La Nucia, Spain, with eight medals, including gold for England’s Kayla Allen.

Allen’s gold medal ensured her fine recent run of form continues, having been crowned European U23 champion last year.

Elsewhere, bantamweight Ellis Trowbridge and middleweight Mary-Kate Smith had to settle for silver after reaching their respective finals.

The remaining five medals were earned by Ivy-Jane Smith (54kg), Vivien Parsons (57kg), Jack Dryden (60kg) and Isaac Okoh (90kg), as well as returning Rosie Eccles (75kg), who was competing for the first time since Paris 2024 over 18 months ago.

On the final day of action in the Benidorm region, Kayla Allen got the day off to a flying start as she sealed her fourth victory in as many days by beating Kazakhstan’s Nazerke Serik via a 3–2 split decision to be crowned champion.

Her earlier victories in the competition included a 5–0 win over India’s Kajal, a 3–2 split decision against the Netherlands’ Aaliyah Hoppema and a third-round stoppage win over Ukraine’s Nataljia Merinova.

Elsewhere on finals day, Mary-Kate Smith faced a tough test in the women’s middleweight final as she took on India’s Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain.

Despite Smith’s best efforts and a strong display, it was the Indian who came out on top to clinch gold, leaving the English boxer to settle for a silver medal.

On her way to the final, Smith recorded victories over Chanu Sanamach (IND) and Alma Garcia Adame (ESP).

There was also a silver for Ellis Trowbridge, who was the third and final GB Boxer to compete on finals day.

Trowbridge faced Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabrykhan in the bantamweight final; however, the contest was abruptly brought to a close in the second round when a cut sustained by the Brit reopened and doctors were unable to stop the bleeding. As a result, victory was awarded to the Kazakh.

Trowbridge’s other victories in La Nucia came first against Ukraine’s Maksym Zymenko (4–1), followed by 3–2 wins over Pawan Bartwal (IND) and Maximus Tomines (CAN).

The other boxers to compete at this year’s Boxam, but who missed out on the medal stages, were Aaron Cullen (55kg), Joe Turner (65kg), Sonny Kerr (70kg), Kyle Shaw-Tullin (75kg) and Matt Williams (90+kg).