Commonwealth Games 2026: England celebrates best boxing total in 40 years

Team England delivered its best Commonwealth Games boxing total in 40 years, winning four gold and three silver medals on Finals Day to finish Glasgow 2026 with an outstanding haul of 10 medals.

Golds for Sacha Hickey, Patris Mughalzai, Isaac Okoh and Damar Thomas, alongside silvers for Ruby White, Chantelle Reid and Dimeji Shittu, added to the three bronze medals already secured by Lauren Mackie, Lucy Kings-Wheatley and Mary-Kate Smith.

The 10-medal return marks England’s best medal haul since the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, underlining another hugely successful campaign for England Performance and GB Boxing.

Sacha Hickey got Team England off to the perfect start, producing a composed display to defeat Ireland’s Kaci Rock by unanimous decision in the women’s under 65kg final.

Roared on by family and friends inside the SEC Arena, the Fisher ABC boxer became England’s first gold medallist of the day. Hickey spoke about the Games and her delight at winning gold: “I started boxing when I was about five or six. We started at a gym on the Ferrier Estate in Kidbrooke.

“[Former English national champion] Tony Cesay trained me for a little while, and then we moved over to Fisher, and I’ve been there ever since. It means everything to me. To be here and win a gold medal for my country and my family is just unbelievable.”

Team England athlete Patris Mughalzai from Minsk wins the Gold Medal in Men’s Welterweight 65kg, at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Patris Mughalzai doubled England’s gold tally with another unanimous decision victory, overcoming Australia’s Jacob Cessar in the men’s under 65kg final.

Having boxed five times across the tournament, the Powerday Hooks boxer established himself as one of Glasgow’s standout performers, earning praise from many observers who labelled him the boxer of the tournament.

The Londoner was full of praise for the experience after stepping onto the top of the podium: “I enjoyed every moment of it. I enjoyed the cameras, the lights – when the lights are on me, I feel like that’s when I’m in full flow, and I get my rhythm. I’ve enjoyed Glasgow a lot. Great people and great fights.

“It feels amazing. I was almost going to cry on that podium, but it’s a great feeling. I said I was going to get in there and do a bit of showboating; I did that today, I had fun, and I got the gold medal.”

Isaac Okoh ensured Team England completed a perfect morning session, dominating Wales’ Connor Williams to claim heavyweight gold.

The Londoner combined technical excellence with trademark showmanship throughout the week before delivering another commanding performance to fulfil a lifelong ambition.

Okoh reflected on achieving a dream he had held since childhood: “When you start boxing as a kid, the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics are two massive tournaments. To be here is surreal and to win a gold medal here is even better. It’s a lifelong dream fulfilled, and it’s just amazing.

“I feel like I’m one of the top fighters at my weight right now in the world. Coming into this tournament, I had an expectation of myself, and I feel like a lot of other people expected me to come away with gold. I did have a bit of pressure, but we stuck to the game plan, kept our heads on, not let the pressure get to us, and put in the performances and came away with the gold.”

The afternoon session brought three more podium finishes as Ruby White, Chantelle Reid and Dimeji Shittu all claimed Commonwealth Games silver medals following hard-fought finals.

Team England athlete Ruby White from Dorchester competing in Women’s Flyweight 51kg, against Sakshi Sakshi of India at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Competing in her first international tournament as a senior, Ruby White produced another outstanding performance before coming up against India’s Sakshi Sakshi in the women’s under 51kg final.

Despite suffering her first defeat since the age of 11, the 19-year-old left Glasgow with a silver medal and plenty to be proud of: “I’m happy. I’m really proud of myself, to be honest.

“Obviously, I came here wanting the gold, but to come away with a silver medal on my first appearance for Team England means the world to me.

“I’ve put the work in and, being only 19 and in my first year as a senior, to put in performances like that across the tournament – four performances in total – makes me really proud.

“There’s nothing more I could have done. I’ll come back better, and I’ll be winning titles before long. It’s been a fantastic tournament, and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Paris 2024 Olympian Chantelle Reid also finished with silver after a strong week in Glasgow, narrowly missing out against India’s Arundhati Choudhary in the women’s under 70kg final.

Despite the disappointment, Reid took great pride in what she had achieved: “I would have been happier with a gold, but I’m proud of what I’ve done in this competition. It gives me a lot to work on when I get back to the gym.

“A silver medal at the Commonwealth Games means a lot. All the bouts are hard, but I made some friends, and I’m really proud of myself. My friends and family are here, watching and supporting. It means the world to me as they don’t normally get to watch me live. Making it onto the podium is a massive blessing, and we build from here.”

Dimeji Shittu was involved in one of the closest contests of the day, narrowly losing a split decision to India’s Ankush Ankush in the men’s under 80kg final.

Although disappointed to miss out on gold, the Five Star ABC boxer reflected positively on an unforgettable week: “It was a good fight. I made a few mistakes. I started really well, but we live, and we learn from these fights.

“It’s been an amazing experience, not just for boxing but for life in general. I’ve felt like a celebrity all week; it’s been amazing. I want to thank everyone: coaches, staff, England Boxing, Team England, the National Lottery. I’m proud of my silver medal. I’ve enjoyed myself all week and put on some good performances, so I’m happy. I’m over the moon.

“It’s not the colour I wanted, but Commonwealth silver medallist doesn’t sound too shabby.”

Team England athlete Damar Thomas from Hammersmith wins the Gold Medal in Men’s Super-Heavyweight 90+kg, at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Damar Thomas brought the curtain down on the boxing programme in fitting fashion, defeating India’s Narender Narender by unanimous decision to secure England’s fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games super-heavyweight title.

In doing so, Thomas followed Joe Joyce (2014), Frazer Clarke (2018) and Delicious Orie (2022), continuing England’s remarkable tradition in the division.

Thomas was delighted to write his name into Commonwealth Games history: “Before I left the hotel, I was looking at an old interview, and someone asked me how it would feel to be a Commonwealth champion and be on the list of all the great names who have won it.

“Before I left, I knew I wanted to achieve it and now here I am, my name is on that list.”

He also paid tribute to his teammates after Team England’s outstanding week in Glasgow: “London really popped out in this tournament. Each of my teammates has done great and when I’ve not been boxing, watching my teammates win gold medals before me has been great.

“They’re all such good athletes, and we all push each other on.”

Team England Boxing at the Commonwealth Games