FUTURE Paris 2024 Olympians Charley Davison, Rosie Eccles and Delicious Orie were handed the top awards at this year’s GB Boxing Awards.
The evening is an annual event put in place to recognise the achievements of boxers and staff at GB Boxing over the last twelve months which has seen the team claim 97 medals, including 37 gold from 13 competitions.
Davison became the first ever female to win the coveted Boxers’ Boxer of the Year award following an impressive year which has not only seen her win three gold medals at the Gee Bee, World Boxing Cup in Cologne and Tammer but also claim bronze at the European Games in May to qualify for Paris 2024 and seal her status as a two-time Olympian having also competed at Tokyo 2020.
Davison said: “I’m really happy and grateful to win this award. I’m a little bit shocked at the same time as there are so many worthy winners.
“I’ve put a lot of hard work in this year though, and to be the first woman to win this award is a real honour and I’m incredibly proud.
“I know previous winners have gone on to win Olympic medals so that is my goal to match that and winning this adds to my confidence in going on to do that.”
Eccles was named Female Boxer of the Year after a similarly impressive 12 months which included beating the reigning World, European and Commonwealth champion, Amy Broadhurst, at the European Games to book her place at Paris 2024.
The Welsh boxer also won gold at both the Grand Prix and Tammer as well as silver at the World Boxing Cup in Cologne.
Eccles said: “To win this award is the best way to finish off an incredible year for me. I’ve had some tough periods during my time at GB Boxing but what I’ve achieved this year has made it all worth it and qualifying for the Olympic Games is a massive milestone in my career and a dream come true.
“Being named Best Female Boxer is really special knowing that I’ve been recognised for all my hard work that I’ve put in this year and it’s an accolade that means a great deal to me, even though I didn’t think I would win it!
“I’m going to enjoy some rest over Christmas and then begin to plan what is a busy year ahead with the sole aim of ensuring I reach my peak in Paris and do everything I can to win that Olympic medal.”
Delicious Orie scooped up two awards as he was named Male Boxer of the Year as well as Most Improved Boxer.
The 26-year-old also secured his Paris 2024 Olympic status at the European Games before going on to be crowned super-heavyweight champion after five impressive displays in Poland, culminating in a unanimous victory over Azerbaijan’s Mahammed Abdullayev.
It tops off a highly memorable year for Orie who as well as winning gold at the Feliks Stamm was also named the Boxing Writers Club’s Amateur Boxer of the Year back in October.
Orie said: “I remember when I first came onto the programme and looking up to the likes of Frazer Clarke, Joe Joyce and Anthony Joshua and thinking I really want to emulate their achievements so now being named Best Male Boxer just shows that I’m on the right path and I just need to keep that up to achieve Olympic success next year.
“For me, the two awards I’ve won are very equally weighted. During the years and being at tournaments I don’t think I realised how much I’ve improved and when I look back and reflect, I can see a natural progression.
“I’ve gone from losing at my first major competition in 2021 to now being European Games champion and an Olympian so the progression is evident and based on that it means a lot to win such awards.”
Other awards on the night saw Elise Glynn win Best Newcomer after a breakout year which saw her win gold at both the Cesme and Cologne Boxing Cup as well as putting in some impressive displays at the European Games where she was unlucky to not progress further in the competition.
Wales’ Taylor Bevan retained the award for Best Bout of the Year. The light-heavyweight last year won the award for his stunning bout with former teammate Aaron Bowen at the Commonwealth Games.
This year however, it was his eye-catching victory over USA’s 2021 World champion, Robby Gonzales, at the Grand Prix which saw him handed the prize for a second year running.
Lightweight Lucy Kings-Wheatley and light-welterweight Paddy Hewitt were named Female and Male Academy Boxer of the Year following successful first years on the programme where they have both won two gold medals each from as many tournaments in 2023.
Outside of the ring, Lewis Richardson was handed the Community Awards for his outstanding contribution to a Council Scheme called Box Smart Initiative with Colchester Borough Homes to improve behaviour of young people through sport. As well as this, Richardson has also been involved in UK Sport’s Powered by Purpose programme which is a vehicle for driving positive social change through sport and more recently he has organised a Christmas Boxing master class for the Salvation Army appeal.
The final honour of the evening was the GREAT award which is given to a member of staff that has best represented the values of GB Boxing throughout the year: Giving Our All, Relationships, Enjoyment, Ambition, Teamwork.
The award is chosen by both Performance Director Rob McCracken and Chief Executive Matt Holt and on this occasion has handed jointly to Laura Ross and Rebecca Edgington for their continued hard work and dedication to the World Class Programmer in their respective roles of Head of Operations and Elite Performance Manager.
