England Boxing National Amateur Championships 2019 Finals Day preview: Manchester welcomes its local boxing heroes from the North West and Merseyside and Cheshire

For an amateur boxer, there is no greater honour than being able to call yourself the best in the country.

This Saturday (13th April), there will be several boxers just a short drive from the venue of the England Boxing National Amateur Championships 2019 Finals Day – Manchester Central – desperate to earn that title.

The afternoon and evening will feature some of the finest talent amateur boxing in England has to offer at 20 weight divisions (11 male and nine female), ranging from Under 49kg to Over 91kg.

Each contender will hope to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Henry Cooper, Alan Minter, Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn, Carl Froch, Nicola Adams, Anthony Joshua, Tony Bellew and Savannah Marshall – as well as local stars Ricky Hatton, Stacey Copeland and Tyson Fury – in clinching a senior England Boxing title and belt.

Here we look at the local boxing heroes – from the North West and Merseyside and Cheshire regions – who will be climbing into the ring on Saturday.

Chloe Watson – over 48kg (Birkenhead Venture)

Chloe Watson is no stranger to reaching finals and winning titles.

From Birkenhead, Chloe first donned a pair of boxing gloves aged 10 and was crowned England Youth National Champion with a split decision victory over defending champion Shauna-Leigh Taylor.

She has also underlined her pedigree by securing a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games and will hope to add a senior Championship victory to her list of achievements.

Ibrahim Nadim – over 52kg (Bury)

From his long list of previous competitions entered and wins achieved, Ibrahim Nadim’s passion for the boxing really shines through.

The boxer proudly represents Bury ABC and already has a brilliant record of boxing achievements to his name, including victories at National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs’ Boxing Championships and a winning place in the British Lionhearts squad at Flyweight in the World Series of Boxing in Liverpool.

With Amir Khan having also come through the ranks at the club, he will have high hopes of being just as successful.

Ramtin Musah – Over 69kg (Beartown)

A true student of boxing and sport in general, having specialised in Sport Development at Cheshire College, Ramtin Musah is looking to make his mark in the finals of the Over 69kg division.

But as well as boxing on home soil, Musah is also familiar with competing internationally, travelling to Turkey back in 2017 to take part in the European Boxing Games, where he finished fifth.

Boxing out of the Beartown Boxing Club in Congleton, Musah is also a three-time North West regional champion and a national quarter-finalist in 2015 and 2016, not to mention winning an England Boxing National Title Belt earlier this year.

Carly Ogogo – Over 75kg (Salisbury ABC, Liverpool)

Carly Ogogo knows all about how success as an amateur can lead to a shining pro career.

Her brother Anthony was one of London 2012’s biggest success stories, having picked up a bronze medal and later turning pro before recently retiring due to injury.

Carly is an established and successful amateur in her own right, having picked up numerous amateur titles, including an England Boxing title in her very first year as a boxer. This weekend she will box in the over 75kg division.

Cindy Ngamba – Under 81kg (Bolton B&G)

Another familiar face in the England Boxing family, Cindy Ngamba has boxed in a number of the governing body’s events.

Training out of Bolton B&G, Cindy is always keen to lace up the gloves and give her absolute best.

As well as coming out on top in her weight class at the England Boxing Development Championships in late 2018, she was also proud to represent her club for the Merseyside and Cheshire ABA v North West Region and Yorkshire ABA event.

In December last year, she was also victorious in the inaugural England Boxing Women’s Winter Box Cup, held at the George H Carnall Centre in Urmston.

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All of these incredible athletes – and plenty more – are fired-up and ready to go for from 2pm at the weekend, where each will get their own ringwalk to add to the sense of occasion.

Who will walk away victorious? Will your local boxing hero take home the title?

Don’t miss out on an amazing day of boxing action. You can buy tickets on the day, with doors open from 1pm.

Follow all the preview material and action on the day via the hashtag #EBNAC19 on the England Boxing Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.

If you can’t make to Manchester you can view the live stream on the BBC and also on the England Boxing YouTube Channel.