Clarke among the golds in Hungary

Boxing 12 Feb 21

Frazer Clarke hailed GB Boxing’s sensational return to the ring as they secured seven medals, three of which were gold, at the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Debrecen, Hungary.

Clarke, Harvey Lambert and Lewis Richardson all climbed to the top step of the podium in their respective 91+kg, 69kg and 75kg divisions during a brilliant week for Britain’s boxers.

World champion Lauren Price had to settle for silver in a narrow 75kg final defeat to the Netherlands’ Nouchka Fontijn on a split decision, while featherweight Nico Leivars, lightweight Gemma Richardson and welterweight Rosie Eccles all secured bronze.

For Clarke, who celebrated his first competitive action since September 2019 in perfect fashion, it was an easy end after he was awarded a walkover when his opponent Nikoloz Degazde pulled out of their final – having won all three of his bouts at the Bocskai in the lead up to the last day.

Clarke said: “I have had so many ups and downs in the last 18 months and to finally be back in the ring, doing what I do, has been brilliant. It has really brought the love back.

“The whole thing has been a great experience and it has made me realise how much I missed every aspect of going away to tournaments and competing. Training and sparring is great, but you cannot beat competing and I think this has been a really beneficial week for me and all of team.

“I worked really hard on my fitness to get here and the competition has been excellent. I have faced two southpaws which is great preparation for me because my next opponent in the Olympic qualifier (due to take place later this year) is one.

“I think I have boxed pretty well. I know the areas where I have to improve and I feel like I am only going to get better now I have got some competitive action under my belt.

“It has been a great trip and the team has performed really well. We’ve had a really nice mix of young up-and-coming members of the squad and some of the older, experienced heads and the atmosphere has been excellent.

“The coaches have been brilliant as always and have made sure we are well prepared which shows in the results we have achieved.”

Another Tokyo hopeful, Richardson, won five bouts in five days culminating in a brilliant showing to outpoint Croatian Jezek Noa and win the middleweight gold.

And in his first international outing for Great Britain, Lambert convincingly defeated Miroslav Kapuler Ischelenko of Israel to win the welterweight final and cap a brilliant week on a personal level.

Meanwhile, Price just lost out against Fontijn in a meeting between the two best middleweights in the world.

The pair met in the finals of both the European Games and World Championships in 2019, with Price triumphing on both occasions, but it wasn’t to be this time for the world number one.

Sportsbeat 2021

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