Talented young boxers from a club in Toryglen gave it their all when they fought in competitions in Ireland and brought home a clutch of medals.
Southside Boxing Academy & Community Hub slugged it out in both Belfast and Wexford in the two competitions in the space of just over a week.
First up was the Belfast Halloween Box Cup weekend, which had over 400 fighters competing.
They punched their way to two gold medals and two silvers with Zain Iqbal receiving a special competition award for his displays.
Coach Anthony Quayle said: “Our boxers put on an incredible show, bringing home two silver and two gold medals.
“Special shout out to Super Zain Iqbal, who not only clinched a gold medal but was also awarded Best Junior Boxer of the Competition.
“Huge thanks to our dedicated coaching team – Anton, Bryan, and Lyndsey – for giving up their weekend to make this success possible. Your hard work and support mean everything to our team.”
After a fantastic weekend showing at the Halloween competition in Belfast, the Toryglen boxers regrouped and prepared to travel to south of the emerald isle for the Wexford Box Cup, the following week.
The Wexford competition had around 500 entries in total, and Southside Boxing Academy showed their mettle winning an incredible five golds and a silver out of nine entries. They finished third overall in the competition.
Anthony added: “Southside Boxing Academy & Community Hub had a standout performance at the Wexford Box Cup, bringing home five gold medals, one silver medal and third best team overall, competing against hundreds of clubs from around the world.
“This was Southside’s third time attending the Wexford Box Cup, a prestigious competition that continues to showcase the academy’s talent and dedication.
“The event provides a fantastic opportunity for our young athletes to gain international experience and represent Southside on a global stage.
“Through the academy’s fundraising efforts and strong community support, our boxers had the chance to travel abroad and compete, a valuable experience for their growth in the sport.
“Southside Boxing Academy is immensely proud of all the boxers’ achievements and grateful to everyone who made this journey possible.”
The five gold medallists from Wexford Box Cup were: Mairead Mcgeoch, 2012, 45kg female champion; Callum Hand, 2011, 45kg champion; Zain Iqbal, 2009, 48kg champion; Ava Allison, 2009, 63kg female champion; and Kashif Mohammed, 2006, 75kg champion.
More info on Southside Boxing Academy & Community Hub at: www.facebook.com/1TCYP
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