Young Newark ABC boxers making their mark at national level

Two up and coming youngsters from Newark are making their presence felt on the national amateur boxing scene right now.

After taking a silver medal in the finals of her weight class at the England Boxing National Schools Championships in Crawley last month, Newark Amateur Boxing Club’s Chloe Davies was selected to represent England in the Tri Nations in Barnsley.

In only her first season and just 13 years old, Chloe put on a great show in the finals on Sunday 7 June. Using her movement and greater shot selection to her advantage, all her coaches agreed she boxed brilliantly over the three rounds and narrowly missed taking the win when her opponent Paige Hoile was rewarded for her overall pressure throughout the bout.

“For Chloe to come second in the National Schools Championships in her first ever season was an incredible accomplishment,” said Dean Sugden, head coach of Suggy’s Gym. “Then going on to represent England in the Tri Nations and lose in the final again was amazing and quite simply the dream for any aspiring young boxer.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing Chloe develop over the next season and achieve great things in the sport as she progresses. Women’s boxing, both at amateur and professional level, is on the up and we have some great female boxers here at Suggy’s Gym.”

Chloe’s fellow club member Sam Hardy, who has trained at Newark ABC since he was four, is another one to watch. Now 13-years old, he already has two consecutive National Schools titles under his belt, the most recent won in Crawley last month.

After attending a selection camp in Sheffield, Sam this week received notification of the next step in his journey in the form of a letter from England Boxing, telling him he will be representing his country in the EUBC Schools European Boxing Championships in Georgia in August.

“It came as no surprise to me to hear Sam has been selected to go to Georgia,” said Dean. “He’s a great kid with a very level head on his young shoulders and is very well thought of by everyone here at NABC.”

“Although he started with us as a kickboxer, he soon realised he preferred boxing and has settled into the sport extremely well. Sam is another one whose progress I am looking forward to following – If he continues to remain disciplined and focused, there’s no doubt in my mind he can go all the way.”