Willow Thomas and Barrie Bessant (Photo: Arena)

Raven Chapman received the award from Bournemouth’s long time professional heavyweight Dave Fry, former foe of British and Commonwealth Champion Danny McAlinden.

Also being recognised was Bournemouth ABC’s Willow Thomas who received the Junior Boxer of the year award.  Willow was accompanied by her head coach (and ex Super middleweight professional boxer Barrie Bessant.

Arena’s Coach Hughie, Charlie, Coach Les (Photo: Arena)

Raven was supported by coaches Steve Clarke and Les Simmons and his daughter Lily and Arena boxers Claire Farmer, Marianne Michael, Louis Clark and of course her proud boyfriend Chris.

Charlie Drury won the Bristol Box Cup after two stunning performances – more to come from this young man.

Lead photo shows Arena’s head coach Steve Clark, Raven Chapman and coach Les.

Report courtesy of Arena ABC

Raven Chapman with coaches Steve and Hughie (Photo Arena)

The trophies will be presented at Parley Country Club on Saturday 3 June 7.30 with a buffet and guest speakers and no doubt a large group from both clubs will be there to support the boxers.

On 16th to 18th June the Haringey Box Cup (the biggest tournament in Europe) will take place and this year Arena have entered Hayley Forbes,  Claire Farmer and Raven Chapman.  

All three boxers feel they are really hitting their stride and the girls and their coaches are very confident that they will go a long way in the tournament.

Claire Farmer (Photo: Arena)

The event was first held in 2008 and from small beginnings has  grown into a fantastic three day spectacle of boxing and Europe’s largest senior open amateur boxing tournament. Each year it attracts over 500 boxers, male and female from 150 boxing clubs across the country and Europe and almost 100 contests each day.  The venue is one of London’s most iconic buildings, the Great Hall in Alexandra Palace.

There are five boxing rings continuously in action for three days, culminating in the finals on the Sunday.

Previous winners have included world champion Anthony Joshua, Double Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion Nicola Adams, Chris Eubank jnr plus Ireland’s 2012 Olympic champion Katie Taylor, and many more.

4tlos congratulate Raven and Willow on their awards and wish Hayley, Claire and Raven the best of luck at Haringey.

(Lead photo shows Hayley Forbes in the blue strip.)

Raven Chapman (Photo: Arena)

Arena Amateur Boxing Club has already seen club members claim 4 national titles at junior and senior levels, in only its first 2 competitive seasons and is soon to see its first boxer in an England vest, when 22 year old club member Raven Chapman makes her international debut next month, representing England as a featherweight in  the European elite championships in Bulgaria.

Fresh from her Elite title winning success in Liverpool back in May, over England’s number 3 seed Hatty Nylon (Hebdon Bridge BC), Raven has continued to work hard to earn this opportunity and currently splits her time between her boxing training and her university course in Wembley.

Club Chairman & former Bournemouth Boxing coach Andy Foote has witnessed the rapid success of Arena Amateur Boxing Club within such a short period of time and is amazed by the success and the great work the club does within the local area.

“Arena ABC is proud of what Raven has achieved and we look forward to what will surely be a long successful international career for Raven! Her success echoes the other numerous achievements from the other boxers at Arena and will only go on to inspire all the other up and coming Arena students.

“A special thank you must also go out to the club’s purely volunteer coaches whose passion, dedication and countless hours coaching & cornering at the many boxing events Arena boxers have participated in throughout the UK, have seen the club’s training sessions grow to supersede full capacity.”

“Following the Europeans, Raven’s next realistic goal is the Commonwealth games in Brisbane, Australia 2018, then fingers crossed, on to the Tokyo Olympics.

To achieve her goals, Raven would welcome any potential sponsorship to help with her  training  costs etc.

If you are able to help in anyway then please email box4arena@gmail.com or raven.chapman@hotmail.co.uk

Arena’s head coach & chief matchmaker Steve Clark is busy arranging matches for Arena’s next England Boxing Show, taking place on the 12th of November at The Beaufort Centre in Southbourne Bournemouth, where among the dozen or so International quality bouts will be Amateur Boxing stars from all over the UK competing against Arena’s finest.

For more info visit Arena Boxing on Facebook or via their website here.