With the Commonwealth Games just days away, the attention of the English boxing world turns to our hopes in the prestigious amateur competition. Team England led the medal table four years ago in Australia, winning nine medals in total, six of them gold. Among those to take the top prize were Galal Yafai and Frazer Clarke, who are already embarking on high-profile professional careers.
But who will be following in those illustrious footsteps? Here’s The Sportsman’s look at this year’s Team England boxing squad for the Birmingham games.
Delicious Orie - Super Heavyweight
The hometown hitter is coming off a bronze medal at the 2022 European Championships and is hoping to make it three golds in a row for Englishmen in this weight class. Joe Joyce and Frazer Clarke have both topped the super heavyweight podium at the previous two games. Orie was inspired to take up the sport at the age of 18 by another late bloomer, Anthony Joshua. Orie has since sparred with the two-time unified heavyweight king.
Niall Farrell - Featherweight
Another local lad, the 2017 European silver medalist has been part of the Generation 22 campaign to highlight athletes to watch at the Birmingham games. Farrell gained vital experience as a sparring partner in Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics and now will be looking to take centre stage, and a medal.
Harris Akbar - Light Middleweight
The Bradford boxer is a man in form, coming off a gold medal triumph at the 2022 European Championship. Akbar beat reigning world champion Yurii Zakharieiev of Ukraine in the semi final, avenging an earlier defeat to gain some personal redemption. Akbar is a former Youth Commonwealth gold medalist, and will be looking to add the main prize to his swelling medal collection.
Demie-Jade Resztan - Minimumweight
The 2019 GB Boxing Newcomer of the Year has certainly made good on her early promise. The 25-year-old has a World Championship bronze medal and a silver and a bronze from the Europeans to her name. Speaking to GB Boxing, Resztan said, “I have lots of positives to take from my previous experiences at other tournaments and I know that I have every chance of doing well at these Games.”
Savannah Stubley - Light Flyweight
A product of the England Talent Pathway, in June of this year Stubley was placed on the GB Boxing World Class Programme. A National Champion and former U22 European Championship medalist, Stubley is now making the step up to high level senior boxing on the Birmingham stage.
Full Team England boxing squad:
Demie-Jade Resztan (Minimumweight)
Savannah Stubley (Light-flyweight)
Kiaran MacDonald (Flyweight)
Niall Farrell (Featherweight)
Sameenah Toussaint (Featherweight)
Gemma Richardson (Lightweight)
Joe Tyers (Light-welterweight)
Jodie Wilkinson (Light-middleweight)
Harris Akbar (Light-middleweight)
Kerry Davis (Middleweight)
Lewis Richardson (Middleweight)
Aaron Bowen (Light-heavyweight)
Lewis Williams (Heavyweight)
Delicious Orie (Super-heavyweight)