The short version
- Chantelle Reid defeated Serbia's Milena Matovic to reach the light-middleweight final against Turkey's Busenaz Surmeneli.
- Damar Thomas won his super-heavyweight semi-final unanimously, setting up a championship match against Russia's David Surov.
- Team-mates Dimeji Shittu and Callum Makin have secured at least bronze medals with quarter-final wins.
Great Britain’s boxing contingent has positioned two of its top contenders for gold medal matches at the European Boxing Championships following a decisive day of semi-final action in Sofia, Bulgaria. Chantelle Reid and Damar Thomas both advanced on Wednesday, securing their places in Friday’s championship bouts after overcoming strong opposition in their respective weight classes.
Reid, competing in the light-middleweight division, faced a challenging path against Serbia’s Milena Matovic. Although she trailed after the opening round, Reid rallied to win the second round unanimously and secured enough points in the third to claim a 3-2 victory. The 28-year-old, who previously won silver at the Commonwealth Games, acknowledged the quality of her opponent while expressing confidence in her own progression through the tournament.
In the men’s super-heavyweight category, Damar Thomas delivered a dominant performance against Azerbaijan’s Mahammad Abdullayev. The 21-year-old Commonwealth gold medalist won the bout with a unanimous 5-0 decision, demonstrating control throughout the contest. His victory sets up a final showdown against Russia’s David Surov, who also advanced by defeating Austria’s Ahmed Hagag with a similar 5-0 scoreline.
Beyond the gold medal hopefuls, other British boxers have ensured that the team will leave Bulgaria with multiple medals. Dimeji Shittu, competing in the light-heavyweight division, defeated Austria’s Lucky Aimufua 5-0 to guarantee himself at least a bronze medal. Shittu, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, emphasized his improved technical approach compared to previous competitions.
Shittu noted that he returned to fundamentals after an initial performance that did not meet his standards. He highlighted the importance of skill over brawling in his recent bouts, stating that his ability to land punches while avoiding counterattacks secured his advancement. He is scheduled to face Russia’s Cheerav Ashalaev on Thursday for a spot in the final.
Callum Makin also contributed to the team’s medal tally by winning his quarter-final match in the men’s middleweight division. The 22-year-old, who earned bronze at last year’s World Boxing Championships, defeated Armenia’s Marat Mikaelyan with a 3-2 decision. Makin will compete against Azerbaijan’s Saidjamshid Jafarov on Thursday to determine the final participant in his weight class.
Not all British fighters advanced from Wednesday’s sessions. Lauren Mackie and Amy Broadhurst were eliminated in the quarter-finals of their respective divisions. Mackie, a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, lost 5-0 to Czech Republic’s Lenka Bernadova in the women’s bantamweight category. Broadhurst was defeated 4-1 by France’s Sthelyne Grosy in the women’s lightweight division.
The remaining British competitors will have opportunities to advance in subsequent sessions. Abdul Burton is set to face Turkey’s Semih Gumus in the men’s super-bantamweight semi-finals on Thursday. The schedule places Shittu and Burton in the morning session starting at 11:30 BST, while Makin’s bout is scheduled for the afternoon session beginning at 16:00.
The finals for Reid and Thomas are slated for Friday, offering a chance to cap off a successful tournament run. Reid will face Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli, who defeated Russia’s Nadezhda Golubeva to reach the final. The outcomes of these matches will determine whether Great Britain can add to its existing medal count from the European Championships.
The performance in Sofia serves as a critical benchmark for British boxing ahead of future international competitions. With multiple fighters reaching semi-finals and finals, the team has demonstrated depth across several weight classes. The results reflect a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging talents aiming to establish themselves on the continental stage.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC Sport↗GB's Reid and Thomas reach finals at Europeans
