Six GB Boxers become 2022 Commonwealth Games champions on final day of action in Birmingham

SIX members of the GB Boxing squad earned victories in their respective finals to win 2022 Commonwealth Games gold, whilst four others claimed silver.

England’s Lewis Williams and Delicious Orie, Scotland’s Reese Lynch and Sam Hickey and Wales’ Ioan Croft and Rosie Eccles were all crowned champions on the final day of action at the NEC Arena in Birmingham.

For Demie-Jade Resztan, Kiaran MacDonald, Gemma Richardson and Taylor Bevan defeats in their respective finals meant they had to settle for silver.

Wales’ Rosie Eccles was the first GB Boxer to claim gold on finals day.

The light-middleweight competing in her second Commonwealth Games final bettered her 2018 silver medal on the Gold Coast by beating Australia’s Kaye Scott in a devastating performance which was stopped in the third round by the referee.

Eccles said: ‘I don’t really know how I feel – just every good word possible!

“Hearing the anthem play I told myself I wouldn’t get upset but I couldn’t contain it I’m so proud. My family, my team, I’m so lucky to have great people around me and help me achieve this and it’s all the sweeter for all the ups and downs I’ve had.”

“It’s not just been one thing. It’s been one thing after another and a lot of things that nobody expects to happen. I’m always optimistic but it got to a point where I was thinking am I a bit cursed?

“I’m just overjoyed. I can’t believe I’ve done this.”

Eccles was soon joined on the top of the podium by Scotland’s Sam Hickey.

In a fierce contest with Australia’s Callum Peters, Hickey did just enough to be on the right side of a 3:2 split victory in the light-middleweight final.

Hickey said: “I’m on another level. I’m on cloud nine. I’m so happy.

“I’m representing my country at a Games and I’m not just doing it for myself, I’m doing it for my family, friends, coaches, they’ve all played a part in this gold medal.

“I believed in myself that I could do it and I’ve been manifesting this for months and thinking about it a lot which has probably mentally drained me a bit but I’m glad I got it over the line.

“All the troops (family and friends) came down. To get that backing and know I’ve got their support is great. I’ve got that many messages on my phone I don’t know how I’ll respond to them all.”

In the first bout of the afternoon to feature a GB Boxer, Reese Lynch of Scotland in his fifth light-welterweight tie won gold via a split decision (4:1).

His opponent was Mauritius’ Tokyo 2020 Olympian Louis Colin in what was a highly contested bout.

Lynch said: “I got there, and I did it the hard way.

“I will be able to say that I got the gold medal the hard way for the rest of my life. I am absolutely buzzing to be honest; I beat four Olympians to get here!

“I beat some of the top boys, the Indian was amazing and had five Asian medals and World medals.”

Lewis Williams in the final bout of the afternoon session claimed England’s first boxing gold medal of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The heavyweight from Leamington Spa did so in convincingly style, winning unanimously against Samoa’s Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali in his third bout of the competition.

Williams said: “I’m glad I could win the gold for everyone and the team. That is the nature of the sport, everything is down to yourself.

“You just have to have confidence in yourself and be greedy. I would love to have the whole team winning gold but that is just the way it is.

“I felt good, I felt still had a few more levels to get to. I could have made it even easier by keeping up my range, using my feet some more.

“The Olympics are the aim. I’m building experience. I’m just going to keep learning and take it from there.”

Moving into the evening session and Wales’ Ioan Croft was up first.

Taking on Stephen Zimba of Zambia and the Welshman asserted his dominance on the tie which ultimately resulted in him being crowned welterweight champion via unanimous decision.

Croft said: “It’s absolutely unbelievable. It’s a dream come true. I’ve lived this over on over in my head a million times but now it’s real!

“It’s been sort of a home games for us so having my family and friends here to cheer me on makes that extra bit more special.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better year really. Two European medal and now a Commonwealth Games gold. I’ve set out what I wanted to do and now we continue to build.”

Concluding the day of finals and the boxing tournament in Birmingham altogether was super-heavyweight Delicious Orie who sealed the team’s final gold on a memorable day.

The 25-year-old from Wolverhampton recovered from losing the opening round to India’s Sagar Sagar by levelling the contest in the second before an action packed third sealed a unanimous victory.

Orie said: “The sky’s the only limit. My inspiration has always been Anthony Joshua and that’s the bare minimum. We’re going to eclipse that but that’s how it works in life. The next generation will exceed me.”

“My mum and dad were here, and I think I cried a bit too much on my dad’s shoulder, but here we are.

“Paris – I can’t wait. It’s only a short trip down the road as well so there’s going to be a massive crowd and I can’t wait to be representing Great Britain this time. It’s going to be amazing.

“A little bit. I was told by my coaches I was down and of course I was getting a little bit worried but I knew I was going to take it round.

“I used the support from the crowd. Honestly, they pulled me through today. They were amazing.”

Demie-Jade Resztan was involved in the opening bout of finals day at 10.30 when she took on India’s Nitu Nitu in the minimumweight division.

Unfortunately for the England boxer she had to settle for a silver medal as she was outpointed by her opponent and lost the bout via unanimous points decision.

Resztan said: “I didn’t perform as well as I could have done. It wasn’t my day and maybe I let my nerves get to me.

“I just didn’t step it up, my legs didn’t move. But it is what it is, and I still got a silver medal at my first Commonwealth Games.

“Everything is a stepping stone in boxing and it was great having the home crowd.

“It’s not a setback, it’s a learning curve. We’ll learn from this and build on it.”

Flyweight, Kiaran MacDonald suffered the same fate when he also took on a boxer from India, Amit Amit.

The 25-year-old earning his second silver medal in as many tournaments following May’s European Championships in Yerevan, Armenia.

MacDonald said: “I’m heartbroken but you’ve got to step back, it’s a great achievement. As a fighter, you want to be the best and on top of podiums.

“I’ve had some good fights out here and put my name on the world stage. Long may it continue.

“I felt it was a good contest. With two high-level operators, you’re going to get that. He was the better man on the day.

“We knew he’s an experienced fighter, he’s world number two for a reason. I’ll be back stronger. I just have to keep this momentum going.”

In the final bout of the morning session, in his fifth bout of the competition, Wales’ Taylor Bevan went up against Scotland’s Sean Lazzerini.

In a tricky match-up, Bevan enjoyed some success throughout but in the end fell just short, with the judges ruling in favour of the Scot via split decision (4:1).

Bevan said: “I’m still feeling gutted at the moment as I wanted to get the gold but once the dust settles, I’ll be pleased with what I’ve achieved at these Games.

“It’s been brilliant, and I’ve really enjoyed it. The whole experience has been amazing, and I’ve had loads of support from friends, family and the whole of Wales.

In the lightweight division, Gemma Richardson faced the reigning world champion, Northern Ireland’s Amy Broadhurst.

Despite the best efforts of the Scunthorpe boxer, Broadhurst demonstrated her world level on her way to a unanimous victory.

Whilst not winning gold, a silver medal for Richardson is a remarkable achievement taking in to consideration the long-term injury she suffered at the start of the year.

Richardson said: “On the day, Amy was the better boxer. A few months ago, she was winning the World Championships and I was in a sling not being able to straighten my arm.

“To be in a ring in a final with her and compete at that level again, I can’t ask for anything more. It hurts now but in a couple of weeks I’ll look back and be buzzing I was on the podium.

“At one point, I was just telling myself ‘I’ll try and get back for the Commonwealths’ but not really believing it myself. It was just to keep me going.

“To come here and be standing on the podium, it’s a dream come true. Considering what I’ve been through this year, I’m over the moon with it.”

13 other members of the GB Boxing squad competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games including: England’s Savannah Stubley, Lewis Richardson and Aaron Bowen, Wales’ Jake Dodd and Garan Croft and Scotland’s Tyler Jolly who all claimed bronze medals.

Whilst Sameenah Toussaint, Niall Farrell, Joe Tyers, Jodie Wilkinson, Harris Akbar and Kerry Davis of England and Helen Jones of Wales missed out on the medal stages.

GB Boxing Performance Director Rob McCracken said: “For boxers from the GB Boxing squad to win 16 medals is an absolutely superb achievement. The teams from Scotland, England and Wales have all had excellent tournaments and it is great to see the medals being won by boxers from all of the home nations. It augurs well for the future as we look forward to Paris in two years time.”