Birmingham 2022: Wins for MacDonald, Richardson and Bowen

August 1, 2022 | by Matt Halfpenny

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England can boast a record-equalling number of boxers through to the quarter-finals of a Commonwealth Games Boxing tournament after another successful day at Birmingham 2022.

Wins for Kiaran MacDonald, Gemma Richardson and Aaron Bowen mean they now have 11 boxers who will contest a place in the last four – with Harris Akbar and Sameenah Toussaint still to open their campaigns tomorrow (Wednesday).

It equals the record set on the Gold Coast in 2018 and is one they will hope to go on to smash in due course with Akbar the reigning European champion and Toussaint a European Under-22 bronze medallist.

Tuesday’s results continues an excellent tournament so far for Team Leader Darren Chapple’s squad who have ambitions to beat the six golds earned in Australia four years. ago.

First up for the Three Lions was Men’s Under 51kg contender MacDonald, who took on Malan Senerviratne of Sri Lanka in the second bout of the evening.

The Sunderland ABC boxer won the opening round unanimously, including 10-8 on one judge’s scorecard by virtue of the cleaner work.

The dominance of the 2022 European silver medallist continued in the second as he combined quick hand speed and good footwork to again get the nod across the board.

MacDonald had few problems in seeing the bout through to a successful conclusion and was visibly thrilled to get his campaign underway in positive fashion.

But it was not all plain sailing for England as Niall Farrell, at Male Under 57kg, exited at the last 16 stage after being stopped in the first round, much to his obvious dismay.

Taking on Northern Ireland’s Jude Gallagher and roared on by a passionate home city crowd, the Birmingham man took an early standing eight count and, as he battled to regain his composure, was caught again for a second standing count, with this time the referee deeming him unable to continue, despite his protests.

England’s third boxer of the night, Richardson, took on Scotland’s Megan Reid at Women’s Under 60kg and she started strongly, winning the first round unanimously in the Old Enemy clash.

Although the second round was closer, the Scunthorpe boxer still did enough to win it on four of the judges’ scorecards to keep herself in command.

As the bout went on, Richardson, who had suffered injury problems coming into the tournament, grew in confidence as she ran out a comfortable, unanimous winner.

The final home boxer of the night to take to the arena was Men’s Under 80kg entry Aaron Bowen, who faced off against Nigeria’s Innocent Ehwarieme, and he entered to roars from the crowd.

The Coventry boxer, a two-time England Boxing National Amateur Championships winner, claimed the first round via a clean sweep, including with two 10-8 margins and was even more convincing in the second, winning 10-8 on all but one scorecard. landing with sharp jabs and combinations.

He then kept his concentration and shape superbly in the third to ensure a safe passage to the last eight.

Day five Team England bouts

Afternoon session:

Men’s Under 71kg – Jessie Lartey (Ghana) v Harris Akbar (England), bout 10, approx 2.15pm.

Evening session:

Women’s Under 57kg – Sameenah Toussaint (England) v Zoe Andrews (Wales), bout 3, approx, 7pm.

Stay tuned to our socials on Twitter (@England_Boxing), Instagram (@englandboxingofficial) and Facebook for updates across the Commonwealth Games.

Also check out the dedicated Birmingham 2022 page by clicking here.