On the final day of action at World Boxing Cup: GB Open – Sheffield 2024
As World Boxing reports, a pulsating final day of action at the sold-out ‘World Boxing Cup: GB Open – Sheffield 2024’ was brought to a dramatic close with a stunning super-heavyweight contest, which the referee stopped after 65 seconds when a spectacular knockdown by Germany’s Nikita Putilov left Norway’s Omar Shiha unable to defend himself.
It was Germany’s only gold medal on a mixed final day for the team, which finished with three silvers.
Speaking in the mixed zone after his stunning victory, Putilov said:” It went good for me today. Sorry for my opponent, but that’s boxing. I am not sure I have ever done that before. Maybe as a junior, but never at an elite level – that was my first stoppage.
“It was a good victory for me and my future. In Germany, I am the number two super-heavyweight. I hope that shows them that I might be number one. I hope they choose me for the Olympic qualifier in Italy (in March), and I will show my best.”
Putilov’s stoppage was a fitting end to a week of top-class boxing action at the English Institute of Sport, which saw the home nation finish on top of the medal table with eight golds.
English boxers won four medals in both the men’s and women’s categories to cap a triumphant week for the hosts in a tournament that was only the fourth international Olympic-style boxing event in the UK since the London 2012 Olympics.
The last English gold medal went to Ramtin Musah, who narrowly defeated his fellow countryman and GB Boxing squad mate, George Crotty, in the light-heavyweight (80kg) final to round off the tournament.
Musah said: “I could not be happier right now. It’s hard boxing your teammates because you know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but it’s great to get the win. I have enjoyed boxing at home this week, and I hope this puts me in the frame for selection for the Olympic qualifier.”
The light-heavyweight clash was one of three all-English finals on the day. In the women’s lightweight (60kg) competition, Shona Whitwell outpointed Lucy Kings Wheatley, while the men’s light-welterweight (63.5kg) match-up saw Patris Mughalzai get the better of Joe Tyers.
Other home nation boxers to win gold included Savannah Stubley at flyweight (50kg), Lauren Mackie at bantamweight (54kg), and Dionne Burman at welterweight (66kg) in the women’s competitions. For the men, flyweight (51kg) Kiaran MacDonald and heavyweight (92kg), Patrick Brown both topped the podium in their round robin competitions.
English boxers that had to settle for silver included featherweight (57kg), Elise Glynn, who lost out to Maud van der Toorn from the Netherlands, Lewis Richardson, who Denmark’s Nikolai Terteryan outpointed at light-middleweight, and Jack Dryden, who was prevented from boxing in his featherweight (57kg) final by a hand-injury and conceded the gold medal to Wales’s Owain Harris by walkover.
The remaining gold medal went to Cindy Ngamba from the IOC’s Refugee team, who got the better of Panama’s two-time Olympian Atheyna Bylon in an engaging middleweight (75kg) final of contrasting styles.
After her medal ceremony, a delighted Ngamba said: “At the moment, I’m just happy that I listened to the team. The next time we go to the qualifier, my next competition, I’ll do what needs to be done.
“She (Bylon) is one of the best, an amazing girl, so for me to share a ring with her and handle her shows that I’m getting better each time. I hope other people enjoy that, which makes my coaches happy because that is important.”
Looking to the forthcoming Olympic qualifier in Italy in March 2024, she added: “It would mean the world to qualify for myself and the refugee team.”
Details of all the gold and silver medallists from the final day are below
:
| Gol.d | Silver | |
| Women | ||
| 50kg | Savannah Stubley (ENG) | Maxi Klotzer (GER) |
| 54kg | Lauren Mackie (ENG) | Melissa Mortensen (DEN) |
| 57kg | Maud van der Toorn (NED) | Elise Glynn (ENG) |
| 60kg | Shona Whitwell (ENG) | Lucy Kings Wheatley (ENG) |
| 66kg | Dionne Burman (ENG) | Leonie Muller (GER) |
| 75kg | Cindy Ngamba (RBT) | Atheyna Bylon (PAN) |
| Men | ||
| 51kg | Kiaran MacDonald (ENG) | Salah Ibrahim (GER) |
| 57kg | Owain Harris (WAL) | Jack Dryden (ENG) |
| 63.5kg | Patris Mughalzai (ENG) | Joe Tyers (ENG) |
| 71kg | Nikolai Terteryan (DEN) | Lewis Richardson (ENG) |
| 80kg | Ramtin Musah (ENG) | George Crotty (ENG) |
| 92kg | Patrick Brown (ENG) | Adam Olare (NGR) |
| 92kg+ | Nikita Putilov (GER) | Omar Shiha (NOR) |
Today’s results and images from the bouts can be viewed at https://www.englandboxing.org/world-boxing-cup-gb-open/.
The ‘World Boxing Cup: GB Open – Sheffield 2024’ was organized by England Boxing in association with World Boxing and GB Boxing and was supported by the National Lottery, UK Sport, and Sheffield City Council.
