THE POWER OF YOUTH
England Boxing Youth national champs take place at the Doncaster Dome
THE final stages of the England Boxing national Youthchampionships took place at the Doncaster Dome February 16-18.
Repton bagged five champions, among them Caroline Dubois, the sister of top heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois, in Class B 60kgs. She defeated Ellis Hopkins (City of Leicester) on a unanimous points decision. “I’ve been working hard and to achieve it, is just amazing. I feel very happy, I feel very proud I’m so lucky,” she said.
Karol Itauma, of St Mary’s, became the national Youth champion at 81kgs. He beat Wolverhampton’s Ryan Cottrill in their final. Itauma said, “I can’t describe it, all the 5am runs, all the training, all the running, all the work that my coaches have been putting in to me. It’s all about that reward. It’s all paid off and it shows in the ring when you prepare and you give it 100% it results in you winning. Now that I’ve won this I can look at things like European championships, excel, I can go further than I’ve ever been before so I’m excited.”
Moss Side Fire’s Conner
Tudsbury took the 75kgs Class B crown, wining against James
Metcalfe. “Amazing absolutely amazing. It means everything, it means my future, what I can accomplish in the future is all based on what happens now. It means I’ll be going to more England camps, getting better. That’s the only way you get better and progress,” he beamed.
Elise Glynn (Hook and Jab) took the 57kgs Youth title, defeating Leam Lane’s Ellie Wilson in their final. “It feels great, I’ve got a great team behind me from Hook and Jab and Amanda Groarke my coach who has helped me to get here today. I was the only female Youth boxer to box three times and it felt great to get into the ring and the ring rust off ahead of the Europeans. I think it’s a great venue and lovely atmosphere and the layout is great,” Glynn said. At flyweight King’s Heath’s
Simran Kaur picked up a good win over Birkenhead Venture’s
Chloe Watson in the 51kgs final. “It feels amazing to be national champion especially because I am the year below and she is a GB athlete. The bout was alright I think I did really well. I stuck to the tactics and kept it long. The competition is great, the venue has been great,” she said. Bradley Thompson (Donnington) was a delighted victor at 49kgs when he overcame
Harvey Smith. “It feels unreal to be the national champion. I’m well happy with that. I had to dig deep for that because it was a tough fight. He came to win but so did I. I am happy I won it,” he said.