Five out of five for England on day three

Friday’s fantastic five ensured England enjoyed a perfect day on day three at the EUBC European Youth Championships 2019 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The Three Lions’ quintet of boxers booked their place in respective quarter-finals with a consistently high standard of boxing – and they will be joined by a further seven already through, making it 12 competing at the weekend stages across the male and female teams.

Last year’s World Youth champion, Scunthorpe’s Gemma Richardson (pictured below), opened her account in this tournament in positive fashion, setting a furious pace on her way to a clear 5-0 unanimous decision against Irish opponent Evelyn Ivie Igharo at 64kg.

European Junior champion 12 months ago, 54kg boxer Courtney Scott, is looking to add the Youth version of the title to her impressive CV and who would bet against the Headland starlet’s opening bout in Eastern Europe?

She forced two standing counts in the second round, bringing about a referee stoppage against host nation boxer Blagovesta Georgieva.

Completing a hat-trick of wins for the female boxers was Kings Heath’s Simran Kaur, who gave a composed and patient performance at 51kg before running out a clear 5-0 winner against her Serbian opposite number, Ivana Podkonjak.

On the male side, things were tighter, but Repton’s Adan Mohammed (pictured above) scored his second win of the championships with his impressive hand speed helping him to a 3-2 split victory against Italian Daniele Salerno at 56kg.

Maintaining the team’s 100% momentum at 56kg was 2018 European Junior champion Adam Azim, of Pinewood, as he posted a solid second session to help him close out a 4-1 split points decision win against Warraich Ilias Naseer of Denmark.

Revised schedule

Saturday – quarter finals – women

48kg – Holly Heffron (Heart of Portsmouth) v Diana Maria Pasat (Italy)

51kg – Simran Kaur (Kings Heath) v Nicole Clyde (Ireland)

54kg – Courtney Scott (Headland) v Bianca Cobzaru (Romania)

57kg – Elise Glynn (Hook and Jab) v Daniela Golino (Italy)

60kg – Caroline Dubois (Repton) v llona Sarembo (Germany)

64kg – Gemma Richardson (Scunthorpe) v Maria Bersteneva (Russia)

69kg – Elouise Challenger (Downend) v Csilla Viktyria Ambrus (Hungary)

81kg – Emily Asquith (Bridlington) v Bethany Doocey (Ireland)

 Sunday – quarter finals – men

49kg – William Hewitt (Leigh) v  Dimitri Naimov (Russia)

56kg – Adan Mohammed (Repton) v Patrick Dean Clancy (Ireland)

60kg – Adam Azim (Pinewood) v Shalva Sajaia (Georgia)

91+kg – William Howe (Natural Progression) v Arbi Haxhiu (Albania).