EUBC Golden Gong 2023: Fabulous five go undefeated as they all claim gold

Team England’s Male Senior boxers went undefeated across eight bouts in a consummate display at the EUBC Golden Gong 2023 in Skopje, North Macedonia.

It was a feat that saw all five boxers: Reece Readshaw (Phil Thomas), Shaun Huddart (Washington), Freddie Pullen (West Ham), Osama Mohamed (Lions) and Teagn Stott (Sheffield Boxing Centre) claim gold, ensuring Team England also brought home the trophy for the best team of the tournament.

The winning feeling didn’t stop there, as the Three Lions picked up a further two individual awards for Best Technical Boxer in Freddie Pullen and Best Coach in Amanda Coulson.

Coulson, England Performance’s Lead National Coach, was delighted with the squad’s trophy haul but re-affirmed the importance of the experience in the bigger picture: “The Golden Gong has provided a great platform to gain additional development and experience for our Senior boxers.

“Eight wins from eight bouts is nice… five gold from five boxers is great, but the performances and professionalism this team has shown in North Macedonia has been beyond exceptional. They’ve oozed class in and out of the ring.

“This tournament is part of the bigger picture for this young team, who are on their international journey where they will pick up experience with each opportunity. They’re in a good place and showing the right indicators of progression just now.”

A good indicator of the progression this squad is embracing came in the form of Freddie Pullen’s Best Technical Boxer award, an accolade the West Ham man says is the ‘icing on the cake’.

“There’s no better feeling than getting your hand raised and standing on top of the podium. To be awarded the Best Technical Boxer of the tournament is the icing on the cake.

“It has been an honour to represent my country again this week. After two tournaments with the England Performance Senior Squad, I’ve brought home two gold medals and beaten some top-class opposition.

“Tournaments like these are a great way for us to build up international experience and help me get one step closer to achieving an Olympic gold medal.

Amanda Coulson was joined by coaches Phil Knight and Chris Lodge in North Macedonia and insisted her award of Best Coach reflects the efforts as a team… but that it was also an honour as the only women’s coach at the competition.

“This honour was made even more special by being the sole women’s coach from all competing nations. I think it sends a bit of a statement to the nations taking part – a coach is a coach, regardless of gender.

“Of course, this success was only able to be recognised after the performances of our boxers and my fellow coaches.

“It was one big effort as always and each person deserves part of this recognition. There is a lot of pride to be taken in receiving numerous comments of praise for the high level of boxing ability each boxer produced when competing.

“All the hard work they’ve put in with their respective clubs over the years and now, in collaboration with the England Performance Pathway alongside the Sports Science interventions, is paying off.

“We dust off, park this success, and aim for the next goal. There’s no time to sit on our laurels.”

Full Team England EUBC Golden Gong 2023 Results:

Day One, Session One:

Male, Under 51kg: Reece Readshaw (Phil Thomas) beat Saban Dimitrov (Bulgaria) by a unanimous decision.

Male, Under 60kg: Freddie Pullen (West Ham) beat Roland Galos (Hungary) by a unanimous decision.

Male, Under 63.5kg: Osama Mohamed (Lions) beat Lena Dion (North Macedonia) by a unanimous decision.

Day Two, Session Two:

Male, Under 51kg: Reece Readshaw (Phil Thomas) beat Jeton Berisha (Kosovo) by a unanimous decision.

Male, Under 57kg: Shaun Huddart (Washington) beat Istvan Bundovics (Hungary) by a split decision.

Male, Under 60kg: Freddie Pullen (West Ham) beat Hadi Hadrous (Sweden) by a unanimous decision.

Male, Under 63.5kg: Osama Mohamed (Lions) beat Maxim Telepiz (Moldova) by a split decision.

Male, Under 86kg: Teagn Stott (Sheffield Boxing Centre) beat Filip Nakovski (North Macedonia) by RSC.

Image credit: EUBC.