SEVEN GB boxers have secured a magnificent seven medals at the European Games, while a quality Irish team have also made sure of six medals by reaching the semi-finals of the tournament at the Sport Palace Uruchie in Minsk, Belarus.
English heavyweight Cheavon Clarke guaranteed the first medal for the GB boxing team at these European Games when he unanimously outscored Hollandโs Peter Mullenberg in Tuesdayโs quarter-final.
But Clarke says, “Gold is the standard. Nothing else is satisfactory.”
On the same day (June 25), in preliminary bouts, Clarkeโs lightweight team mate Calum French outpointed Italyโs Francesco Maietta on a split decision. At 64kgs Luke McCormack outscored Hungaryโs Milan Fodor on a split decision. GB 81kgs Ben Whittaker beat Austriaโs Umar Dzambekov on a unanimous decision. Scotlandโs Aqeel Ahmed was edged out by Georgiaโs Sakhil Alakhverdovi at 49kgs on a split decision.
Irish middleweights Aoife OโRourke and Michael Nevin were victorious, the former beating Belarusโ Viktoryia Kebikava, the latter in a quarter-final defeated Turkeyโs Serhat Guler, both by split decision. Irelandโs James McGivern lost a unanimous decision to Armeniaโs strong 64kgs Hovhannes Bachkov. But Irish light-flyweight Regan Daly was victorious, beating Spainโs Martin Molina Salvador on a split decision in their quarter-final.
Wednesday (June 26) saw the rest of the quarter-finals. Irelandโs Michaela Walsh secured a medal when she beat Germanyโs Ornella Wahner on a split decision. Welterweight Grainne Walsh also made sure of a medal when she defeated Finlandโs Elina Gustafsson on a unanimous decision.
Irelandโs Kurt Walker secured a good win when he unanimously beat Franceโs Samuel Kistohurry. โItโs probably the first ever time Iโve fought in that style,โ Walker said. โHe was too fit to keep off and he would have caught me on the back foot so I had to fight his style which Iโve never really done, so Iโm just glad I tried it and won myself a medal.
โThatโs two tough fights now, but Iโm happy, Iโm improving every time. Our team is flying at the moment so itโs brilliant.โ
World champion Kellie Harrington came through a quarter-final with a split decision over Italyโs tricky Irma Testa at 60kgs.
Welsh middleweight Lauren Price will win another European medal after she beat Irelandโs Aoife OโRourke unanimously. โItโs nice to get the first one out of the way, everyoneโs had to box on the team and I was the last one so itโs nice to get in there, the first oneโs always the hardest,โ Price said. โObviously, Iโm guaranteed a medal now, so Iโll push on to Friday in the semi-final. I felt good, fitness was fine. Iโll go back now, speak to the team, go through the video and work on things for Friday.โ
Continuing his good showing at flyweight Britainโs Galal Yafai unanimously outscored Ukraineโs Dmytro Zamotayev. GB 56kgs Peter McGrail also reached the final four, beating Albaniaโs Krenar Zeneli on a unanimous decision. Another British star, welterweight Pat McCormack is guaranteed a medal. He eliminated Monacoโs Hugo Micallef by unanimous decision too.
โI want to be the best and to do that youโve got to beat the best. Iโm feeling good, Iโve got the bronze secured but Iโm only going to be happy with gold. I got silver at the last Europeans, Iโve done that twice, so I just want the gold,โ Pat said.
His twin brother Luke McCormack will join him in the semi-finals after a split points win over Ukraineโs Yaroslav Khartsyz. Nor will Ben Whittaker be denied a medal after his split decision victory over Germanyโs Abdulrahman Abu Lubdeh.
A split decision went against Birtleyโs Calum French when he boxed Armeniaโs Karen Tonakanyan.
The semi-finals take place on Friday (June 28), with the finals from Saturday to Sunday (June 29-30).
Click here for more on the preliminary stages of the European Games