Andrew Selby’s emphatic finals win over Chinese boxer Jaiwei Zhang was one of the standout bouts in a superb showing by Great Britain at the Four Nations Challenge in Sheffield.
Against some of the world’s top amateurs from Kazakhstan, France and China, the men’s GB squad secured a total of five wins at the prestigious tournament.
After a week of training and sparring together, the four countries spent two days competing at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EIS Sheffield).
Welsh bantamweight Selby had been defeated by China’s rising star earlier in the week at the WBC Night of Champions, but produced some fine boxing to record a 13 – 9 win in the finals.
Other highlights were Beijing Olympian Bradley Saunders’ 6 – 3 victory in the light welterweight division against Yelussinov Daniyar (Kazakhstan) and Hull featherweight Luke Campbell’s win over Jun Tan, of China, 11 – 3.
European medalist Tom Stalker, from Liverpool, beat Kazakhstan’s Bashenov Samat 10 – 9 at 60kg while at 69kg, Liverpool’s Callum Smith also secured a win for GB beating Kazakhstan’s Sapiyev Serik 12 – 4.
Double world champion and Olympic gold medalist Shiming Zou enjoyed a dramatic win over Kazakhstan's Zhakipov Birzhan.
Frank Buglioni's supporting bout against Chevas Stephane of France raised the roof at EIS Sheffield. Despite Frank’s loss in the semis to Tavares Nichel, the London-born middleweight went onto beat Stephane 21-18 on the second day of competition.
GB Boxing’s Performance Director Rob McCracken said: “The squad performed superbly well in what was a very high standard of competition. To secure five wins against such quality opposition gives the whole squad great confidence.
“All of the lads will have benefited from training and sparring alongside the boxers from Kazakhstan, France and China in Sheffield and the tournament victories were a great way to end the week.”
