Karriss claims gold in Belarus
IT’S been a busy period for Macclesfield Boys’ Boxing Club recently, as they were involved in a number of shows over the last few weeks.
Former MBBC boxer Karriss Artingstall was in action as she travelled to Belarus as part of the GB boxing team to take part in European championships.
Artingstall is based over at Sheffield most of the week with some of the best coaching staff in the country and the best facilities available, and since making the team she has gone from strength to strength by winning the Elite Championship earlier in the year.
The competition started in midweek with Artingstall taking on a home boxer from Belarus, but it was a short lived bout as Artingstall stopped her opponent in the first round meaning she progressed to the semi-final.
This time it was a Croatian opponent and this was a great bout, with both boxers showing why they are at a top class level but Artingstall’s boxing ability outclassed her opponent as she won on a unanimous decision.
So on to the final. This is such an achievement and is one of many that she has achieved.
From being a disruptive kid in Macclesfield, she has turned her live around with guidance from the coaches at MBBC and is now at world class level about to walk in to the ring representing Great Britain in the final.
This time it was against another Belarussian girl and someone that Artingstall had shared the ring with in a previous sparring session, so Artingstall had experienced her punches and knew she was strong so the plan was to keep her hands up high and stick to the boxing with in and out phased attacks.
With pitch perfect strategy Artingstall was able to outclass the Belarus girl to take the gold medal in an absolutely fantastic result.
Everyone at the MBBC club knows how good this girl is so it was no surprise to them that she got the victory.
MBBC also recently competed on a Boxfit ABC show in Northwich, with Jordan Reed in action as he went up against Phillip Burk from Old Swan Boxing Club in Liverpool.
Burk who was slightly taller than Reed, so round one saw both boxers settle in, but Burk caught Reed a few times due to his longer reach. Reed was having success as well and giving as good as he got by throwing some nice shots that were also hitting the target.
Both lads were evenly matched as they went in to round two, and the coaches were urging Reed to throw more shots and to move his head as he was getting caught with the straight shots Burk was throwing straight down the middle, but when Reed responded he was doing well.
Round three saw both lads still have plenty of gas left in the tank. Reed was working much better off the back foot and avoiding Burk’s shots but not coming back with counters as sharp as he needed to do and as the last few seconds were shouted both kids gave it their all pleasing the crowd.
It was a great little bout but Burk just edged the decision with those straight shots and Reed did MBBC proud in his first contest.