
Awards night features video message from national coach of Uzbekistan thanking GB Boxing’s medical staff for their part in saving his life at Paris 2024
OLYMPIC bronze medallists, Cindy Ngamba and Lewis Richardson, swept the boards at the Annual GB Boxing Awards which took place this week.
The pair took home five of the 10 awards on a night that saw all of the boxers, coaches and employees come together to celebrate the achievements of GB Boxing over the last twelve months when boxers from the squad won 102 medals at 13 competitions, including two bronzes at Paris 2024.
Ngamba, who made history in the summer when she became the first ever refugee to win an Olympic medal, was the most decorated boxer on the night as she took home three awards. She was named Female Podium Boxer of the Year and took the coveted Boxers’ Boxer of the Year, which is voted on by the boxers in the Podium and Academy squads. Her first-round victory in Paris against the world champion and number one seed, Tammara Thibeault of Canada, was named Bout of the Year.
Richardson won Male Podium Boxer of the Year and took the GREAT award for boxers which is given to the athlete who has best represented the values of GB Boxing: Giving Our All, Relationships, Enjoyment, Ambition and Teamwork (GREAT).
Richardson said: “It has been an amazing year and to win these awards that have been voted for by my colleagues and friends tops it all off. These awards mean a lot to us and it’s a great way to end what has been the best year of my career to-date.”
Ngamba added: “It is overwhelming to win three awards and I just want to thank everyone at GB Boxing for their support. Everyone here is a legend.
“All my teammates always believed in me and they were all so happy for me when I executed my skills at the Games and showed the world what I could do. For them to give me this award is their way of saying how proud they are of me. It is very overwhelming.”
On her bout of the year award, Cindy recalled: “I was very calm. I lost the first round so I knew going into the second that I had to step up my game, but I was fit and had been well prepared by my coaches and I just did what they told me to do. I did think I had won the bout, so it was unbelievable when the referee lifted my hand at the end.”
Other winners on the night included three boxers from GB Boxing’s Academy squad. Sheffield’s Teagn Scott was named Best Male Academy Boxer with Sacha Hickey from London taking the female award. Liverpool’s Odel Kamara won the award for Most Improved Boxer, closely followed by Patris Mughazlai.
Kamara, who finished his first 12 months in the GB Boxing squad with a gold medal at November’s World Boxing Cup Finals, said: “It is an honour to be part of this event tonight and I am so excited for the future. Consistency is key and I have a great routine at GB Boxing which has helped me to improve a lot over the last year.
On his gold medal at the recent World Boxing Cup, he added: “I loved that tournament. I was just so happy to be there because it’s so rare that we get to compete in England. I wanted to show everybody that I am here to stay and I am going to make it to the top, so it was a big statement from me to win gold.”
The Community Award was shared between lead Strength and Conditioning Coach, Gary Hutt, and Senior Podium Coach, Gary Hale, for their work in supporting local charities and community groups. Hale has delivered a series of boxing classes to young people from GB Boxing’s charity partners, Sheffield Mind and Roundabout. Hutt recently raised over £1000 for when he took part in a Sleep Out organised by Roundabout which works to help young people break the cycle of homelessness.
The GREAT award for employees was shared amongst GB Boxing’s Physiotherapy team, Robbie Lillis, Aiden Doyle and Sean Hannon, to reflect their vital work in keeping the boxers fit and healthy throughout a vitally important year for the World Class Programme (WCP).
Robbie Lillis was also recognised, along with Team Doctor Harj Singh, for their swift actions at the Paris Olympic Games, when they provided emergency assistance to the Head Coach of Uzbekistan, Tulkin Kilichev, after he had a heart attack and collapsed in the warm-up area during the Olympic boxing semi-finals.
Kilichev sent a video message to thank Robbie and Harj which was screened at the Awards evening.
In the video he said: “On behalf of myself, my family members and the entire boxing community of Uzbekistan, I extend my deepest respect and heartfelt gratitude to Mr Robbie Lillis and Mr Harj Singh. Their dedication to their profession is truly honourable and I will forever value their selfless assistance and never forget their help in saving my life.
“It would bring me great joy to welcome them to Uzbekistan, strengthen our bond, and establish an enduring friendship.”



