Memorable day two at the World Boxing Cup in Sheffield for GB Boxers as nine secure victory
NINE members of the GB Boxing squad ensured they will have the chance to box again at the World Boxing Cup in Sheffield after securing victories on day two of the competition.
England’s Kiaran MacDonald, Joe Tyers, Patris Mughalzai, Lewis Richardson, Kerry Davis, Chantelle Reid and Ramtin Musah as well as Wales’ Taylor Bevan outboxed their opponents to book their place in tomorrow’s action.
Light-heavyweight George Crotty also secured victory via a walkover whilst GB Boxing sparring partner Cindy Ngamba was another to progress to the semi-final stages.
The only disappointments came in somewhat unfortunate circumstances as both Scott Richards and Huey Malone were beaten by GB Boxing teammates.
The day was opened with the first of those two bouts involving two GB Boxers as Kiaran MacDonald and Scott Richards met in the flyweight contest.
Across the three rounds the experience of MacDonald shone through, handing him a unanimous points victory.
The Sunderland boxer will now face Czech Republic’s Filip Horvath tomorrow at 17:00pm whilst Richards will be up against Germany’s Ibrahim Salah at 17:15pm, with the men’s flyweight being ran as a round robin.
MacDonald said: “It’s nice to shake the Christmas dust off, the first one at every tournament is hard but once you’ve got the ball rolling you push on.
“I’ve not boxed in Britain since the Commonwealth Games so it’s good to be back in front of my home crowd.
“I’ve boxed one of my GB teammates which is never nice, but you’ve got to get on with it, get through the day and be friends tomorrow.”
Middleweight Kerry Davis also earned a unanimous victory as she was able to deal with the unorthodox approach of Nigeria’s Patricia Mbata whilst at the same weight, Chantelle Reid administered three standing counts upon Germany’s Irina Schonberger, bringing the bout to a halt in the third round.
GB Boxing sparring partner Cindy Ngamba was another winner at middleweight after beating Sweden’s Love Holgersonn via a 4:1 split.
It means in tomorrow’s semi-final action Davis will take on Panama’s 2022 world silver medallist Athenya Bylon at 13:00pm whilst Ngamba and Reid will face off against each other at 13:15pm.
Reid said: “It feels amazing, that was a really good first bout for me.
“Giving out those standing counts gives me loads of confidence and all my energy is focused on tomorrow now. I’ve just got to keep doing my thing.
“All my family and friends are here, and they don’t usually get to see me box so it’s amazing to hear them in the crowd. I loved every second, being in that ring was an incredible experience.”
Taylor Bevan was the first of the light-heavyweigths to take to the ring, in a fiercely contested bout against Germany’s Kevin Boakye Schumann, it was the Welshman who came out on top via a 4:1 split decision.
Bevan will now face teammate George Crotty at 19:00pm. Crotty was scheduled to box today but was awarded a walkover against his opponent Noha Teumer.
Fellow light-heavyweight Ramtin Musah was the final GB Boxer to compete in the morning session and he eased to victory against Jindrich Janecka with the referee bringing the bout to an end just over a minute into the third round.
In tomorrow’s programme, Musah will go up against Germany’s Ben Ohis at 19:15pm.
Moving into the day’s evening session and Joe Tyers kick started things with a 4:1 split victory over Czech Republic’s Erik Suchy to line-up a semi-final clash with Germany’s Assai Hansen at 18:00pm tomorrow.
Also set to compete in the light-welterweight semi-finals is Patris Mughalzai after he unanimously outpointed another GB Boxer in the form of Huey Malone.
It means Mughalzai has teed up a clash at 18:15pm with Sweden’s Hampus Bromman.
Competing at the new weight of 71kg for the first time, Lewis Richardson closed the day’s action with a solid display.
Up against an accomplished opponent in Norway’s Martin Skogheim, Richardson dominated the three rounds to secure a unanimous victory and line-up a semi-final clash with Czech Republic’s Kelvin Soquessa.
Richardson said: “Martin’s an established fighter who has been some of our guys in the past so it’s a good scalp for me and my first at light-middleweight for GB.
“I’m enjoying it (at the new weight). I feel big, strong and I’m ready to give it a big push over the next few months.
“We go again tomorrow, I’m ready for whoever is infront of me and that’s ten wins on the spin for me so I’m in top form and I can’t wait to progress further in the competition.”
Today’s winners compete tomorrow (Friday 19th January) alongside 15 other members of the GB Boxing squad on day three of the World Boxing cup.
Light-flyweight teammates Demie-Jade Resztan and Savannah Stubley will meet in the day’s opening bout at 11:00am before Lauren Mackie will look earn her second win of the competition at 11:45am.
Jack Dryden is set to compete at 12:00pm at bantamweight and will soon be joined by Wales’ Owain Harris Allan who will be back in action at 12:15pm following victory on Wednesday evening.
Both Lucy-Kings Wheatley and Shona Whitwell will step through the ropes for the first time at 12:30pm and 12:45 respectively when the lightweight contest gets underway.
Concluding the day’s afternoon session is Patrick Brown at 14:00pm and he will box in the heavyweight round robin.
The evening will amonst today’s winners, also include featherweight action meaning Olivia Holmes and Elise Glynn will take centre stage at 17:30pm and 17:45pm.
Tickets for the “World Boxing Cup: GB Open – Sheffield 2024” are still on sale, with prices starting at £10 (plus booking fee) for a day ticket, at www.seetickets.com and are available to purchase HERE.
You can also follow all the action live via BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app as well as both GB Boxing and World Boxing’s YouTube channels.
Where to watch?
Friday 19th January: 11:00-14:00 GMT and 17:00-20:00 GMT –
BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
The event is being delivered by England Boxing in association with World Boxing and GB Boxing and is supported by the National Lottery, UK Sport and Sheffield City Council.
The results of all the bouts involving boxers from Great Britain will be posted on GB Boxing’s social media channels and at https://gbboxing.org.uk/.
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