George returns to form
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DENAEO GEORGE was a European champion whose skills had more than 100,000 views – and then he disappeared.
“People were wondering what happened to me,” said the 17-year-old from City of Leicester Lightning ABC, “and now I’m back.”
The 2019 European Schoolboy champion has been named in England’s squad for the forthcoming European Youth Championship in Armenia (April 23-May 4).
George heads there in confident mood having beaten last year’s European Youth champion Owen Ketley in the final of the Youth Championships last month.
George also beat Ketley in the 2019
National Schools final – before he took a break.
That was idea of his father, and coach, Emerson George.
He withdrew the teenager from championships after a semi-final loss to Thomas Varey in the last four of the Junior Championships in Hereford in October, 2021.
Emerson said: “We took a break from competing at championship level.
“We had a year out to work on a few things. We went on club bouts to see the improvements and when we were happy we went for it again.”
Denaeo said: “I needed to get more comfortable in mid-range, instead of being on the outside. I like to keep it long and I needed to work on my bent-arm shots.”
Emerson knows his son better than
anyone – and he knows boxing as well.
He was a fighter himself, winning 17 of 22 bouts with Belgrave ABC during a golden era for the Leicester club.
The late Jez Brogan had champions Neil Linford, Martin Concepcion, Jason and Paul Squire, Jeff Guest and more in the Checketts Road gym.
Emerson regularly sparred Concepcion and was known as a puncher.
Billy Wright took over from Brogan at the Leicester gym and Emerson said: “Billy said his wife was always glad when I was on the show because it meant he would be home early!”
Emerson’s career peaked with a run to the semi-finals of the Junior ABA Championships and says Denaeo was only three years old when he first took him to the gym.
“Denaeo has been taught the right way,” he said. “He had the jab and footwork before others his age. Some of them caught up with him in technique, but Denaeo has drive and talent as well. He has these fast hands. People say he’s silky smooth and he boxes like a Cuban.”
Those skills have been admired by more than 100,000 on social media.
George posted a clip of him leaving an opponent punching shadows and wondering where he is as he slips and slides around him. Those skills were only seen on club shows for around a year as Emerson withdrew his son from championships. George boxed only three times – winning all unanimously – before re-entering the Youth Championships this season.
Emerson said: “Because he hadn’t boxed at top level for so long, he was a bit nervous. But I knew if he performed like he can, he would have no problem.”
Father and son agree the semi-final against West Ham southpaw Connor Mitchell was tight before victory over Ketley in the final confirmed George is back to his best.
That was followed by what Boxing News described as an “outstanding” performance for England against Wales in Cardiff.
Gareth Jones said George was the pick of the boxers in his country’s 7-5 win. He handed Joe Williams two counts on the way to a unanimous points win, Emerson saying: “He wanted to impress at the top level.”
Next is the European Youth Championships in Armenia and George heads there believing he can strike gold.
“It gives me confidence knowing I won the European Schools title,” said George, who is also trained by Chris Slatcher and Elvis Hopkins. “If I did it before, why can’t I do it again? The gold medal is the target again.”
ENGLAND SQUAD
Female: Under 48kg – Ebony Jones (Scunthorpe); Under 50kg – Alice Pumphrey (The Purge), Dionne Mannion (Marden, reserve); Under 52kg – Lauren Mackie (Burton Park and GB), Keira Bowden (Redcar, reserve); Under 60kg – Monae Smith (Jennings Gym); Under 63kg – Madison Adkins (Stratford Upon Avon); Under 66kg – Amy Nolan (Right Stuff); Under 81kg – Amber Moss-birch (Golden Ring and GB). Male: Under 48kg – John Tom Varey (Box
Smart Elite), Mikie Tallon (Lee Jones, reserve); Under 51kg – Joe Turner (Jennings Gym), Zayn Ahmed (Pinewood, reserve); Under 54kg – Owenketley (Lionheartandgb), Leighton Birchall (Jennings Gym, reserve); Under 57kg – Denaeo George (City of Leicester Lightning); Under 67kg – Ellis Panter(burton Park); Under 75kg – Emmanuel Buttigieg (Newham).