Achievements:
- 2019 GB Boxing Championships – Gold
- 2018 Youth World Championships – Bronze
- 2018 Youth European Championships – Bronze
Profile:
Conner started boxing at the age of eight after his mum saw an advert in a newspaper about a boxing club that had been set-up in Moss Side Fire Station. The aim was to provide an outlet for Conner’s energy and the eight-year-old quickly showed an aptitude for the sport which also helped to build his confidence
After a victorious first bout at the age of 11, Conner progressed through the sport and won England Boxing titles as a Junior and a Youth, which resulted in him being selected to represent England at the World and European Youth Championships in 2018, where he won middleweight bronze at both events.
Conner’s international success as a Youth boxer earnt him an assessment with GB Boxing and after attending a series of training camps, he was offered a place in the squad as part of the world class performance programme in the latter part of 2019.
In his first competitive appearance as a member of the GB Boxing squad he won the light-heavyweight title at the 2019 GB Boxing Championships in Sheffield. The outbreak of Coronavirus in March 2020 and its impact on sport meant Conner had to wait 18 months to make his international debut as a member of the GB Boxing squad. However when the time came he did not disappoint and won gold at the Socikas Tournament in Lithuania in May 2021.
Although his preferred category is light-heavyweight, Conner was selected by GB Boxing to compete in the newly created cruiserweight division (86kg) at the 2021 World Championships in Belgrade, where he delivered a series of excellent performances to reach the quarter-finals. He was one of the team’s best performers at the competition and agonisingly missed out on his first major international medal as a senior when he narrowly lost by a split decision (3:2) to Victor Schelstrate of Belgium in his quarter-final. It augured well for future success at major championships where Conner aims to compete in his favoured light-heavyweight division.
Conner describes his style as “explosive” and his favourite boxers include Gennady Golvkin and Vasyl Lomachenko. When he is not training and competing, he is an Ambassador for a Manchester based charity, the Mavericks Star Trust, which uses sport and boxing as a means to help people and clubs in deprived parts of the city.