Almost four years since Nicola Adams put women’s boxing well and truly on the sporting radar with her emphatic victory in the London Olympics, we are finally seeing the true impact her achievements have had on female participation in the sport.
This weekend Liverpool’s iconic Echo Arena is the venue for the England Boxing Elite Finals and for the second year running both men’s and women’s bouts are being contested. Every year since London 2012 women’s boxing participation has increased and boxing clubs, who may once have been reluctant, are opening their doors to women participants. This year sees the highest number of elite entries to date and ensures an exciting weekend of competitive boxing at the highest level.
So healthy were the numbers of entries for this year’s women’s competition that we saw an almost full bill of quarter finals on day one.
Clashes were seen at all weights from light flyweight to light welterweight and the organisers have for the first time felt the need to seed certain boxers – indicative of the talent on display this weekend.
Three of the seeded boxers took to the ring in the quarter finals including London Community Boxing Clubs Ramla Ali seeded number 3 at bantamweight. She won on a unanimous points decision against Wellington Boxing Club’s Jade Pearce.
Kim Shannon (Second City) seeded number 2 in the bantamweight category also won on a unanimous points decision against Lauren Parker (Stevenage).
Hatty Nylon (Hebden Bridge) #3 made it three out of three for the seeds with a unanimous points decision against Paddy John’s Kim Rowe at featherweight.
Today’s semi finals promise some exciting clashes with 14 bouts on the bill. We look forward to the appearance of a few number 1 seeds including Light Flyweight Tanya Dady (Earlsfield), Bantamweight Ellis Booth (St Gerrards), light welterweight Cherelle Brown (Islington) and GB Boxer Sandy Ryan (One Nation) at lightweight.
With less than 100 days to go to Rio, Nicola Adams has already secured her ticket whilst the lightweight and middleweight Olympic spots are yet to be obtained by GB women. These National Championships see the birth of our future Olympic champions and with such exciting talent on display we have such potential for success in Tokyo 2020.
Women’s quarter final results – Friday 29th April
48kg Adrianna Finch (Boston) beat Molly Perkins (Eastside) pts split
54kg Chloe-Jane Stansfield (Army) lost to Rachael Mackenzie (H Hour) pts unan
54kg Ramla Ali (London Community Boxing) #3 beat Jade Pearce (Wellington) pts unan
54kg Lauren Parker (Stevenage) lost to Kim Shannon (Second City) #2 pts unan
57kg Tori Willets (Eastside) lost to Shelby Brazell (Hartlepool Elite) pts split
57kg Hatty Nylon (Hebden Bridge) #3 beat Kim Rowe (Paddy John’s) pts unan
60kg Chelsey Arnell (St Paul’s) lost to Shanice James (Army) pts unan
64kg Kate Flynn (No Limits) lost to Nina Bradley (Boston) pts unan
Women’s semi final programme – Saturday 30th April
48kg Tanya Dady (Earlsfield) #1 v Adrianna Finch (Boston)
48kg Kerry-Anne Aaron (Army) #3 v Demi-Jade Resztan (New Astley) #2
51kg Beccy McMullin (Intense) #3 v Jade Ashmore (Chesterfield) #2
54kg Ellis Booth (St Gerrard’s) #1 v Rachael Mackenzie (H Hour)
54kg Ramla Ali (London Community Boxing) #3 v Kim Shannon (Second City) #2
64kg Cherelle Brown (Islington) #1 v Nina Bradley (Boston)
64kg Paige Murney (Leicester Unity) #3 v Alanna Murphy (Army) #2
57kg Raven Chapman (Arena) #1 v Shelby Brazell (Hartlepool Elite)
57kg Hatty Nylon (Hebden Bridge) #3 v Kirsty Hill (Grimsby) #2
60kg Sandy Ryan (One Nation) #1 v Shanice James (Army)
60kg Louise Orton (St Mary’s) #3 v Sarah Dunne (Bury) #2
69kg Stephanie Wroe (Army) #1 v Hannah Shield (North Shields)
69kg Jem Campbell (Academy Luton) #3 v Laura Stevens (Far Cotton) #2
75kg Nikoletta Paksi (Repton) #3 v Lauren Johnson (Wodensorough) #2
With thanks to Lucy O’Connor for the report.
Above photo (courtesy of England Boxing) Shanice James (Army) unanimously out points Chelsey Arnell (St Pauls) in the quarter finals.
