The England Boxing National Amateur Championships reached a thrilling climax in Derby on Saturday, as the sport's emerging talents displayed their promise on the biggest domestic stage. Among the standout performers was Ruby White, who captured her first senior national title in the flyweight division by defeating Madi Gittens of Box Club. White, already a World U19 champion and a four‑time European champion at the youth level, continued her remarkable streak, remaining unbeaten in more than 60 bouts after securing a unanimous decision over Gittens.
"I'm over the moon," White told Sky Sports after the bout. "I think I proved a lot of people wrong being a first‑year senior and winning this tournament.
The jump from youth to senior is massive, and I think I showed everyone that I belong on these big stages and that I’ll be fighting for Great Britain soon." She added that her drive and work ethic set her apart: "The secret to my success is that I want it more. I train harder than anybody.
My desire and willpower to be the best are stronger than anyone else's." White's victory was part of a broader night of impressive performances across the weight classes. In the men’s flyweight division, Billy Macey claimed his second national crown after his opponent, Yusuf Uddin, was disqualified for shoving the referee. Macey, reflecting on his win, emphasized sportsmanship: "Win, lose or draw, you hold your head up high, keep your back straight and stay respectful. There's no need for screaming or shouting." He also paid tribute to the legacy of British boxing greats, noting, "I’m following in the footsteps of many great fighters.
Joe Calzaghe won it three times. It’s an absolute honour to win because this is the pinnacle of amateur boxing in the country." The heavyweight division saw a surprise upset when Adekali Kargbo of De Hood defeated the reigning 90 kg champion Akinola Tijani with a 4‑1 split decision. Tijani, speaking to Sky Sports, explained his mindset in close fights: "Any time I hear I’m close to losing or something happens, I dig deep, I show why I want it more." In what many considered the bout of the evening, Clinton Achusim of Longsight outboxed Finchley’s Anthony Ibekwe to claim the super‑heavyweight title. Achusim described the fight as a realization of his training: "I loved every single minute of it.
This is what we train for. I can adapt, I box well, I punch hard. This is just the first of many victories to come." Other notable winners included Amo Singh from Repton, who unanimously outscored James Smith of Sandygate to take the 65 kg title, and GB hopeful Joe Turner, who earned a 4‑1 split decision over Halliwell’s Joe Peel in the 62.5 kg final.
Turner expressed confidence in his future: "There was no one taking that belt away from me tonight. Fair play to my opponent as well, but these moments are what I’m made for.
I know one day I’ll be a world champion as a pro, no doubt in my head, so until that day I’ll keep pushing forward." Beyond the national championships, Great Britain’s boxing squad is preparing for the inaugural World Boxing Cup, currently underway in Brazil. The women's team features Sacha Hickey (65 kg), Lauren Mackie (54 kg) and 2025 World Boxing Championship bronze medallist Chantelle Reid (70 kg). The men’s roster includes Ellis Trowbridge (55 kg), Will Hewitt (60 kg), Patris Mughalzai (65 kg), Paddy Hewitt (70 kg), Dimeji Shittu (80 kg) and Teagn Stott (90 kg). For Sheffield’s Teagn Stott, who earned a silver medal in the cruiserweight (85 kg) division at last year’s World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, this tournament marks his third foray into the heavyweight class.
He aims to cement his place at the new weight after a strong showing at the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Hungary, where he also took silver. "It’s a great opportunity to test myself against top‑level international opponents and gain more experience on the big stage," Stott explained.
"Every tournament like this is another step in my development, especially as I continue to grow into the heavyweight division. The aim is to keep improving with each bout, take on each challenge that comes and hopefully that puts me in a good position for the future, looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games and beyond."