The England Boxing National Amateur Championships reached a thrilling climax in Derby on Saturday, as the nation’s most promising pugilists stepped into the ring to showcase their talent. Among the standout performances was that of Ruby White, a young fighter from Sturminster Newton, 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, adding a senior title to an already impressive résumé. White’s victory was decisive: she won by unanimous decision, keeping her unbeaten record intact after more than 60 bouts.
"I’m over the moon," she told Sky Sports after the fight. "I think I proved a lot of people wrong by being a first‑year senior and winning this tournament. The jump from youth to senior is massive, and I’ve shown everyone that I belong on these big stages. I hope to be fighting for Great Britain very soon." She credited her success to an unrelenting work ethic, saying, "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." The men’s flyweight final also delivered drama. Billy Macey secured his second national championship after his opponent, Yusuf Uddin, was disqualified for shoving the referee. Despite the controversy, Macey remained composed, emphasizing sportsmanship: "Win, lose or draw, you keep your head up, stay upright, and behave like a true sportsman.
There's no need for screaming or shouting." He added, "I’m following in the footsteps of great fighters like Joe Calzaghe, who won this title three times. It’s an absolute honour to win it because it represents the pinnacle of amateur boxing in the country." In the heavyweight division, De Hood’s Adekali Kargbo caused an upset by dethroning the reigning 90 kg champion Akinola Tijani with a 4‑1 split decision.
Tijani reflected on his defeat, saying, "Any time I hear I’m close to losing, I dig deep and show why I want it more." His words highlighted the mental toughness required at this level. The super‑heavyweight bout, arguably the night’s most electrifying contest, saw Clinton Achusim of Longsight overcome Finchley’s Anthony Ibekwe to claim the title. Achusim expressed his joy, stating, "I loved every single minute of it.
This is what we train for. I can adapt, I box well, and I punch hard.
This is just the first of many victories to come." Other notable winners included Repton’s Amo Singh, who unanimously outscored James Smith of Sandygate to take the 65 kg title, and GB prospect Joe Turner, who earned a 4‑1 split decision over Halliwell’s Joe Peel in the 62.5 kg final. Turner was confident about his future, saying, "There was no one taking that belt away from me tonight. I know one day I’ll be a world champion as a professional, and 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 in Brazil, which runs until April 26. The women's team features Sacha Hickey (65 kg), Lauren Mackie (54 kg) and Chantelle Reid (70 kg), the latter a bronze medallist at the 2025 World Boxing Championships.
The men’s lineup 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). Stott, a Sheffield native, earned a silver medal in the cruiserweight (85 kg) division at last year’s World Boxing Championships in Liverpool and is now making his third appearance at heavyweight. He aims to solidify his position in the new weight class, building on his previous success at the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Hungary.
"It’s a great opportunity to test myself against top‑level international opponents and gain more experience on the big stage," Stott said. "Every tournament is another step in my development, especially as I grow into the heavyweight division. My goal is to keep improving with each bout, embrace every challenge, and position myself well for the Commonwealth Games and beyond." Overall, the national finals highlighted a new generation of British boxers ready to transition from domestic success to the global arena.
Their stories—whether of youthful triumph, seasoned resilience, or the pursuit of greater challenges—underscore the depth of talent within the UK boxing community and set the stage for an exciting future on the world stage.