GB BOXING has selected 10 men and 6 women to compete in the forthcoming Strandja Memorial tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, 24 February – 2 March 2025.
The line-up includes seven boxers that won medals at the recent Boxam tournament in La Nucia, Spain (4-8 February 2025).
It means a busy start to the year for Ellis Trowbridge (51kg), Isaac Okoh (92kg) and Damar Thomas (92kg+) who all won gold in Spain.
The other Boxam medallists that will be joining them in Bulgaria include Paddy Hewitt (71kg) and Dimeji Shittu (80kg), who both came away from La Nucia with silver, and Scott Richards (51kg) and Teagn Scott (86kg) who won bronze medals.
The other men in the team are Owain Harris Allan (57kg), Jack Dryden (60kg) and Patris Mughalzai (63.5kg) who will be seeing their first competitive action of the year.
The women’s selection includes Elise Glynn, who will compete at 60kg following a recent move-up from 57kg, and Dione Burman (66kg) who ended 2024 in fine style when she won gold at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2024 in Sheffield at the end of November.
The remaining four female selections are: Kelsey Oakley (50kg), Lauren Mackie (54kg), Sameenah Toussaint (57kg) and Sacha Hickey (63kg).
GB Boxing’s Performance Director Rob McCracken said: “The Strandja is traditionally a very strong tournament with a high standard of competition so this will be a good test for all of the boxers. The boxers that medalled in Spain will be looking to build some momentum while for those making their first appearance of 2025 it is a chance to begin the year well.
“We are at the start of a new cycle so tournaments like this are a great opportunity for all of the boxers to show what they can do and stake a claim to be considered the number one boxer at their weight, with a view to being selected for some of the major tournaments later in the year.”
The 16 selected boxers will represent England and Wales at the Strandja. The full team is:
|
Boxer |
Weight Class | Country |
Club |
|
Kelsey Oakley |
50kg – Light-flyweight (F) | England | Priory Park ABC |
|
Scott Richards |
51kg – Flyweight (M) | Wales | Pontypridd ABC |
| Ellis Trowbridge | 51kg – Flyweight (M) | England |
Surbiton ABC |
|
Lauren Mackie |
54kg – Bantamweight (F) | England | Burton Park Amateur Boxing Club |
|
Owain Harris-Allan |
57kg – Featherweight (M) | Wales |
Apollos and Llanedyrn ABC |
|
Sameenah Toussaint |
57kg – Featherweight (F) | England |
Yeading Boxing Club |
|
Jack Dryden |
60kg – Lightweight (M) | England | Birtley ABC |
| Elise Glynn | 60kg – Lightweight (F) | England |
Darlaston ABC |
| Sacha Hickey | 63kg – Light-welterweight (F) | England |
Peacock Boxing Club |
|
Patris Mughalzai |
63.5kg – Light-welterweight (M) | England | Powerday Hooks ABC |
|
Dione Burman |
66kg – Welterweight (F) | England | Braunstone Golden Gloves ABC |
| Paddy Hewitt | 71kg – Light-middleweight (M) | England |
Leigh ABC |
|
Dimeji Shittu |
80kg – Light-heavyweight (M) | England | Five Star ABC |
| Teagn Stott | 86kg – Cruiserweight (M) | England |
Sheffield Boxing Centre |
|
Isaac Okoh |
92kg – Heavyweight (M) | England |
Dagenham Boxing Club |
| Damar Thomas | 92kg+ – Super-heavyweight (M) | England |
Powerday Hooks Boxing |
The results of all the bouts involving boxers from Great Britain will be posted on GB Boxing’s social media channels and at www.gbboxing.org.uk.
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