Callum Makin and Odel Kamara are back in action at the M&S Bank Arena this afternoon
GB Boxing team phot ahead of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
Callum Makin and Odel Kamara will both be looking to book their places in the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Championships today. The two Scousers return to the ring at the M&S Bank Arena this afternoon as they look to become the latest boxing heroes from a city with a storied history in the sport.
Makin got his tournament underway with a unanimous victory over Petar Kresimir Knezevic of Croatia on Friday afternoon. The Rotunda ABC man started the 75kg fight on the front foot and a big left-hand landing in the opening minute of the first round was greeted by huge cheers.
In the end, every judge scored the contest 30-27 in favour of the 21-year-old, who will face the experienced Michal Jarlinski of Poland in today’s opening session.
“He’s good, we haven’t done any sparring, but he was in Sheffield (for the pre-tournament camp), and I got a good look at him,” Makin said when asked about Jarlinski. He’s a good, tidy operator and it will be a very good fight.”
Kamara delivered a statement performance on Saturday afternoon as he beat Shpetim Bajoku of Kosovo in his 70kg round of 32 contest.
The final scorecards had Kamara, who fell in love with boxing at Salisbury ABC, winning 30-26 with four judges and 30-27 with the other.
The 21-year-old will meet Kuwardeep Manu of Canada this afternoon, and he said: “I’m ready to go. I know what I need to do. I’m just going to keep sticking to the plan and get the job done.”
Makin was recently promoted to GB Boxing’s Podium Squad after impressing in the Academy group, while Kamara is being tipped by many to claim gold after winning gold and silver at his two most recent international competitions.
And speaking about the pair before the competition, GB Boxing’s performance director, Rob McCracken, said: “They are both really talented.
“We are three years out from Los Angeles (Olympics) and they have both got the drive, potential and talent. The world championships are a brilliant opportunity to box at home and for them to show where they are at.
“The world championships are a good indicator to show where you are at, and it helps to develop them. They are both very talented boxes and fairly new on the programme, but they have loads of talent.”