Ngamba, Reid and Brown all one win away from a place at Paris 2024 after a successful day of action at Olympic qualifying event in Italy
GB Boxing’s Chantelle Reid and Pat Brown, as well as sparring partner Cindy Ngamba, all earned victories on day seven at the Boxing Road to Paris Olympic qualifying event to move to within one bout of securing a quota place at Paris 2024.
All three were competing for the second time in Busto Arsizio, Italy, following impressive wins last time out.
First up was Cindy Ngamba, who wasted no time in ensuring she progressed to her Olympic qualifying bout after stopping her Korean opponent, Suyeon Seong inside the second round.
Representing the refugee team, the 75kg boxer can book her place at Paris 2024 with victory over Valentina Khalzova on Monday at 13:00pm.
Ngamba said: “I’m pleased. She was another tough opponent who has been around for years. Me and the GB Boxing coaches had a plan and I stuck to the tactic, listened to my corner and I didn’t let her settle because I knew I had to be smarter with my defence.
“Looking ahead I’ll need to repeat that and hopefully get the win.
“I want to thank the lord, myself, and my coaches. Whilst I’m the one doing the work in the ring, they have all the years of experience necessary to help me reach these level of performances against very tricky and technical opponents.”
Boxing in the other ring at the same time, fellow middleweight Chantelle Reid put in another impressive display, this time against Brazil’s Viviane Pereira, to score a unanimous points victory to set up a qualification bout with Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova also at 13:00pm on Monday.
Reid said: “I found that one more difficult than last time so I’m glad it’s out of the way and ready to and get that ticket now.
“I just need to keep popping my jab, keep them thinking but I can take that into the next one now.
“I’m so excited, I’m ready and can feel it coming. It’s time to book my place in Paris.”
Concluding the day’s action was Patrick Brown.
The heavyweight sealed his second win of the tournament with another convincing, unanimous display, this time against Venezuela’s Luis Sanchez.
He is also now just one win away from earn his place at the upcoming Olympics, with only Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki standing in his way at 14;15pm
Brown said: “Like I said last time, I’m not satisfied until I get that win to qualify so it’s another one boxed off and the ball isn’t stopping until I’ve got it done on Monday.
“It would mean the world to go to Paris. I’ve only been on GB Boxing for two years so it’s just nice to show kids at amateur clubs that anything is possible if you stay on it and believe in yourself.
“A few of my friends and family came out today so I had a good crowd so it’s nice to have the cheers and chants coming from them – they play their part.
“I’ve been hearing my chant they sing since I was a kid so that’s one thing, I’m more than used to. It means the world, they come out to watch me wherever I’m boxing and I appreciate their support so much.”
In tomorrow’s penultimate day of action at the E-Work Arena in Busto Arsizio, three members of the GB Boxing squad will be looking to follow in their teammates footsteps by reaching the final stage of the qualification event by securing victory.
First up at flyweight and entering the ring at 13:30pm is Kiaran MacDonald who takes on Roden Lagon of the Philippines.
Then in the day’s evening session, featherweight action will firstly see Elise Glynn face Turkey’s Esra Yilmaz at 18:15pm before Owain Harris-Allan meets Lucas Alexander Fernandez Garcia of Uruguay at 19:15pm.