The England Boxing National Amateur Championships in Derby delivered a showcase of emerging talent, with several young athletes demonstrating why they are poised to become the sport's future stars. In the elite finals, Ruby White captured her first senior national title in the flyweight division, defeating Madi Gittens of Box Club by unanimous decision. White, already a World U19 champion and a four‑time European champion at the junior level, continued her remarkable streak, remaining unbeaten in more than 60 bouts. "I’m over the moon," White told Sky Sports after the bout.
"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, but I showed that I belong on these big stages and hope to represent Great Britain soon." She credited her relentless work ethic for her success, adding, "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 produced drama. Billy Macey secured his second national crown 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 act like a true sportsman," he said. He also reflected on the legacy of past champions, noting, "I’m following in the footsteps of great fighters like Joe Calzaghe, who won three times.
Winning this title is an honour because it represents the pinnacle of amateur boxing in the country." In the heavyweight division, Adekali Kargbo of De Hood stunned the crowd by edging out the defending 90kg champion Akinola Tijani with a 4‑1 split decision. Tijani, when asked about his defeat, said, "Whenever I hear I’m close to losing, I dig deep and show why I want it more." The super‑heavyweight bout, arguably the night’s highlight, saw Clinton Achusim of Longsight overcome Finchley's Anthony Ibekwe to claim the title. Achusim expressed his enthusiasm, "I loved every minute of it.
This is what we train for. I can adapt, I box well, and I hit hard.
This is just one of many victories to come." Other notable performances included Repton’s Amo Singh, who unanimously outscored James Smith of Sandygate to win the 65kg title, and GB hopeful Joe Turner, who triumphed in a tightly contested 62.5kg final against Halliwell’s Joe Peel, winning 4‑1 on the judges’ cards. Turner was confident about his future, stating, "There was no one taking that belt away from me tonight. I know one day I’ll be a world champion as a professional, so until then I’ll keep pushing forward." Beyond the national championships, Great Britain’s boxing squad is preparing for the inaugural World Boxing Cup, currently taking place in Brazil. The women’s team features Sacha Hickey (65kg), Lauren Mackie (54kg) and 2025 World Boxing Championship bronze‑medallist Chantelle Reid (70kg).
The men’s contingent includes Ellis Trowbridge (55kg), Will Hewitt (60kg), Patris Mughalzai (65kg), Paddy Hewitt (70kg), Dimeji Shittu (80kg) and Teagn Stott (90kg). Stott, who earned a silver medal in the cruiserweight (85kg) category at last year’s World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, is now competing at heavyweight for the third time. He aims to solidify his place in the new weight class, building on his previous silver 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 explained.
"Each tournament is another step in my development, especially as I continue to 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 Derby finals highlighted a generation of boxers who combine technical skill with fierce determination. Their performances not only provided thrilling entertainment for fans but also signaled a bright future for British boxing on both the amateur and professional stages.