GB Boxers Reid and Thomas Reach European Finals
Chantelle Reid and Damar Thomas fought their way to the final rounds in Sofia, setting up gold medal clashes on Friday.
Key points
- Chantelle Reid and Damar Thomas won their semi-finals to reach the European Boxing Championships finals on Friday.
- Callum Makin and Dimeji Shittu secured guaranteed bronze medals after quarter-final victories in Sofia.
- Lauren Mackie and Amy Broadhurst were eliminated in the quarter-finals by opponents from Czech Republic and France.
Chantelle Reid and Damar Thomas punch their tickets to the European Boxing Championships finals in Sofia on Wednesday. The two British fighters secured semi-final victories, moving them one step closer to gold.
The arena air hums with the scent of sweat and anticipation. Reid, the light-middleweight, trades crisp jabs with Serbia's Milena Matovic. Thomas, the super-heavyweight, throws heavy, decisive shots at Azerbaijan's Mahammad Abdullayev. Two paths, one goal: the summit.
Reid and Thomas secure finals spots
Reid trailed after the first round but found her rhythm. She won the second round unanimously and closed out the third. The 28-year-old Commonwealth silver medallist now faces Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli on Friday. Her opponent defeated Russia's Nadezhda Golubeva 3-2 to reach the final.
Thomas dominated his super-heavyweight bout with a 5-0 decision. The 21-year-old Commonwealth gold medalist will face Russia's David Surov. Surov also won his semi-final 5-0 against Austria's Ahmed Hagag. Both fighters stand ready for the decisive clash.
Makin and Shittu lock in medals
Callum Makin and Dimeji Shittu have guaranteed bronze for Great Britain. Makin, the middleweight, beat Armenia's Marat Mikaelyan 3-2 in the quarter-finals. He faces Azerbaijan's Saidjamshid Jafarov on Thursday for a spot in the final.
Shittu, the light-heavyweight, outworked Austria's Lucky Aimufua 5-0. The 24-year-old will fight Russia's Cheerav Ashalaev on Thursday. Shittu aims to improve on his Commonwealth Games silver from August, seeking a cleaner victory this time.
British women fall in early rounds
Not all British hopes advanced. Lauren Mackie lost 5-0 to Czech Republic's Lenka Bernadova in the bantamweight division. Amy Broadhurst was beaten 4-1 by France's Sthelyne Grosy in the lightweight class. Both exits happened in the quarter-finals.
Abdul Burton remains in the competition. He faces Turkey's Semih Gumus in the super-bantamweight semi-finals on Thursday. His bout starts at 11:30 BST, alongside Shittu's fight. Makin's session begins later, at 16:00 BST. The pressure mounts as the weekend approaches.
