Three of GB’s boxers have booked their ticket to Paris at the 2024 European Games.
In most events, the top four would qualify, apart from the Women’s Middleweight and Men’s Flyweight, Heavyweight, and Super Heavyweight.
Starting with the Men’s Flyweight, Kiaran MacDonald got a bye to the Round of 16. Here he faced German Salah Ibrahim, who he beat by unanimous decision (5-0). The same fate was waiting for Serbia’s Omer Ametović in the quarterfinals. However, in the semifinals, he lost unanimously to Billal Bennama of France, and a bronze medal was not good enough to reach Paris.
In the Men’s Featherweight, Jack Dryden beat France’s Riad Labidi unanimously in the Round of 32, but fell unanimously to Denmark’s Frederik Lundgaard Jensen in the Round of 16.
In the Light Welterweight, Reese Lynch defeated Latvian Mārcis Grundulis unanimously in the Round of 32, but lost unanimously to Bulgaria’s Radoslav Rosenov in the Round of 16.
In the Light Middleweight, Harris Akbar reached a bye to the Round of 32, but lost on split decision (4-1) to Germany’s Magomed Schachidov.
In the Light Heavyweight, Taylor Bevan faced France’s Mathieu Bauderlique and beat him by unanimous decision in the Round of 32. However, he lost by the same result to Ireland’s Kelyn Cassidy in the Round of 16.
In the Heavyweight, Lewis Williams faced Kosovo’s Taulant Jakupi in the Round of 32 and forced a stoppage, going through by abandonment. However, he lost by split decision to Türkiye’s Berat Acar (3-2).
In the Super Heavyweight, Delicious Orie defeated Croatia’s Marko Milun 4-0 in the Round of 32. Next was Norway’s Omar Mohamed Shiha, who was dispatched 5-0. The same fate was true for Davit Chaloyan of Armenia in the quarterfinal. In the semis, Yordan Hernández of Bulgaria lost by the same result to confirm Orie’s place in Paris. He still had to fight for gold, and defeated Azerbaijan’s Mahammad Abdullayev 5-0 to do so.
On the women’s side, Demie-Jade Resztan got a bye to the Round of 16, but she lost by unanimous decision to Italy’s Giordana Sorrentino in the Light Flyweight.
In the Bantamweight, Charley Davison defeated Mary Romero in the Round of 16 (5-0). Zehra Milli of Sweden was next in the quarterfinals, but she was also dispatched by unanimous decision to confirm Davison’s place in Paris. In the semis, she lost (5-0) to Bulgarian Stanimira Petrova, but a bronze medal and an Olympic quota was something to celebrate.
In the Featherweight, Elise Glynn beat Serbia’s Anđela Branković by unanimous decision in the Round of 32. However, in the Round of 16 Italian Irma Testa beat her on a split decision (3-2).
In the Lightweight, Shona Whitwell was defeated (4-0) in the Round of 32 by Kosovo’s Donjeta Sadiku.
Rosie Eccles got a bye to the Round of 16 in the Welterweight, where she defeated Italy’s Assunta Canfora (4-1). Ireland’s Amy Broadhurst was also beaten in the quarterfinals by split decision, 3-2 to confirm Eccles’ place in Paris. In the semis she lost to Turk Busenaz Sürmeneli by split decision (4-1), but like Davison bronze was joined by an Olympic spot.
Kerry Davis entered for GB in the Middleweight, but was beaten by France’s Davina Michel by split decision (3-2) in the Round of 32.
For the events where Brits did not qualify, there are still chances. Four places per event (two in the Women’s Featherweight and three in the Lightweight) are up for grabs at the next event, the first World Qualification Tournemant, to be held in the first quarter of 2024.
GB Games 