GB Boxing: Nine English boxers selected for Olympic qualifiers

GB Boxing has selected nine English boxers to compete at the upcoming Olympic qualifying event in Italy, between the 4^th and 11^th March 2024.

The event, hosted in Busto Arsizio near the Italian capital of Milan, will provide the opportunity for boxers to secure qualification for this Summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

The five male selections include Kiaran MacDonald (Sunderland ABC), Jack Dryden (Washington ABC), Patris Mughalzai (Powerday Hooks), Lewis Richardson (Essex University) and Patrick Brown (Moss Side Fire).

All five boxers medalled at last week’s “World Boxing Cup: GB Open – Sheffield 2024” and are being rewarded with the chance of Olympic qualification.

For Kiaran MacDonald and Jack Dryden, this will represent their second opportunity at qualification after taking part in last year’s European Games in Krakow, Poland.

The quintet will be joined by Taylor Bevan of Wales.

The four female selections are Savannah Stubley (Empire SoB), Elise Glynn (West Warwicks), Shona Whitwell (St Ives) and Chantelle Reid (Kode Red).

All four competed last week in Sheffield, where Stubley and Whitwell won gold and Glynn secured silver.

Middleweight, Chantelle Reid, won bronze at the event and did enough in her two bouts to impress the GB Boxing selectors with a third-round stoppage of Germany’s Irina Schonberger in her quarter-final and a creditable loss in her semi against the eventual winner, Cindy Ngamba.

Ngamba, who trains with the GB Boxing squad in Sheffield as a ‘sparring partner’ will also compete at the qualifier in Italy where she will represent the IOC Refugee Team.

Ngamba will travel and share accommodation with the British team and be supported by coaches and support staff from GB Boxing.

GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken, said: “We have strength-in-depth in quite a few weight categories, so it is always difficult selecting teams for Olympic qualifying events, which are hugely significant for the boxers, but we have analysed their recent performances and gone with boxers whose form and fitness indicates they have a good chance of qualifying at the next event.

“Qualifying for an Olympic Games in boxing is very tough and, while we expect our boxers to perform well in Italy, previous experience shows that we are likely to send boxers to the third and final qualifier, so those that have not made it this time need to continue to work and train hard and make sure they are ready to take the opportunity, if or when we come to select boxers for the final qualifier.”

The third and final qualifying event for boxers to make it to Paris will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 26th May – 2nd June 2024.

The full list of boxers selected by GB Boxing for the event in Busto Arsizio is:

Women

Men

IOC Refugee Team