The boxing event of the Commonwealth Games started with 18 preliminary contests in the first competition day. England had three boxers in action in the exciting opening sessions and their young talents all advanced to the next stage of boxing.
The Commonwealth Games is one of the top multisport events next to the Olympic Games and European Games and after four years of break, the competition returned to the agenda. Altogether 55 out of the 72 participating NOCs are competing in the boxing event of the upcoming Commonwealth Games from all of the five Confederations. The finals of the Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham on August 7.
The bout of the day
England’s Lewis Richardson achieved a silver medal at the EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships in Yerevan and the 25-year-old boxer had to box for the last 16 in the opening day of the Games. The English middleweight (75kg) star proved better performance than two months ago in Armenia and he was so focused from the first seconds against a neighbour, Wales’ Haaris Khan. The two boxers knew each other from previous training camps and sparring sessions therefore the more experienced Richardson knew the best strategy against the Welshman. Richardson had full concentration until the end of the bout and joined the last 16 in Birmingham which means he still needs four further steps to be a champion in the Commonwealth Games.
The Round-Up
Reese Lynch achieved a historic bronze medal at the Belgrade 2021 AIBA Men’s Elite World Boxing Championships as first Scotsman and he was seeded at the EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships but missed the medal in Yerevan. The 21-year-old Scottish boxer proved that he is in top shape in Birmingham where he spent less than three minutes in the ring. Lynch controlled the Round of 32 contest from the first seconds and the referee stopped it still in the opening round. Kiribati’s Timon Aaree was brave in the contest but it was his first ever international appearance and Lynch looked too experienced for him.
England’s Kerry Davis is their new strong hope at the middleweight (75kg) who competed at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul two months ago. The 25-year-old boxer is a tall competitor in this weight class but she was not able to find the best fighting distance against Ghana’s US-based Ornella Sathoud in the first round. The English coaches switched the tactics in the first break and from the second round Davis controlled the exchanges. Sathoud looked exhausted in the third round and the English girl managed to win her preliminary contest in Birmingham.
England’s Joseph Tyers is one of the new faces of their national team who represented the country in the U22 level and at the EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships. His first opponent was Sri Lanka’s Wasala Mudiyanselage Rajakaruna, a newcomer at the light welterweight (63.5kg). Tyers was highly confident from the first seconds against Rajakaruna, and controlled the first round in his debut. Tyers was at a different level than his Sri Lankan opponent and won an emotional contest in Birmingham.
Wales’ Taylor Bevan joined their national team as a youth boxer at the age of 17 and he won the youth international tournaments one by one. He was invited to the elite national team in 2020 and after so many experiences in the international stage, he delivered his very best in the right time during the most important event of his career. The Welshman landed powerful body shots in the first round and caught his opponent from New Zealand, the 19-year-old Onyx Lye. The Welsh light heavyweight (80kg) boxer delivered the second KO of the day after Australia’s Billy Polkinghorn.
The quote of the day
“I went back to Scotland after the EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships and trained hard to be in top shape in this Commonwealth Games. I did not know any details about my opponent from Kiribati, even if he is orthodox or southpaw but I felt what was working against him in the first few actions. It is great that we can fight against such developing countries like Kiribati, good luck to them. My second opponent will be more difficult, he is experienced and a strong boxer, but I am looking forward that challenge,” added Scotland’s young sensation, Reese Lynch after his contest.
