England Performance finish on the U15 Euros podium with nine medals

England Performance enjoyed a successful campaign at the 2026 U15 European Boxing Championships in Trabzon, Türkiye, claiming nine medals – five gold, one silver and three bronze – to finish third in the overall standings.

The podium finish is particularly impressive given England’s 13-strong squad, compared with Russia and hosts Türkiye, who entered 32 boxers each and finished first and second respectively, with 26 and 16 medals.

Brogan Darrie (Felling), Millie Rolfe (Paulsgrove), Sam Smith (Newham), Shane Fury (Jimmy Egan’s) and Bilal Iqbal (No Excuses) all claimed gold on Finals Day, while Solomon Dubois (Repton) secured silver.

Felix Rooney (Newham), Lola Hatton (Magic Hatton’s) and Jim McDonagh (Team Greaves) also joined their teammates on the podium to receive their bronze medals.

Bilal Iqbal had to work hard to secure his European title, competing four times in Trabzon. The No Excuses boxer recorded unanimous decision victories over opponents from Poland, Azerbaijan and Austria before defeating Ukraine’s representative by split decision in the final.

Reflecting on his achievement, Iqbal said: “Being a European champion feels incredible.

“I’m proud to bring this title home and see all the hard work and sacrifices paying off. A massive thank you to everyone who’s backed me and been part of this journey.

“This is only the start, and I’m excited for what’s to come – there’s big things ahead.”

Millie Rolfe also faced a challenging route to the podium, taking on opponents from established boxing nations including Ireland, Ukraine and Georgia. The Paulsgrove boxer showcased her quality and determination, winning all three bouts by unanimous decision.

Rolfe spoke about the pride of bringing gold home: “It still feels a bit surreal that I’m European Champion.

“I’m so proud to have represented England, it’s been an amazing experience, and I’ve made some really good friends along the way.

“Day-to-day I just get my head down and work hard, and I’m so grateful to my coaches and family for helping me get here. It means a lot to bring the title home to Portsmouth.”

David Johnston, who led the coaching team in Türkiye, praised the squad for its performances and the way the boxers represented their country throughout the Championships: “We are incredibly proud of what this team has achieved. To come away from a European Championships with 13 boxers and bring home nine medals, including five golds, is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved.

“The boxers have worked extremely hard to get here, and what impressed me most was the way they represented England, not just in the ring but outside it as well. They showed great character, team spirit and a real desire to compete at the highest level.

“I’d like to thank Kerry Chalk, Carl Ellis and Sean McGann for their work as coaches, and Cliff Perkins for everything he did as team manager. It’s been a real team effort, and the support from their clubs and parents has played a massive part in getting these boxers to this level.

“For some of these young athletes, this is just the beginning of their international boxing journey. Hopefully, this experience gives them the belief and motivation to keep pushing on and go even further in the future. They’ve done themselves, their clubs and England proud.”

You can claim 15% off Opro Mouthguards by entering the code EnglandBoxing15 here.