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Britain name largest Olympic boxing squad in 32 years

By Peter Gilbert

Thursday 30 June 2016 14:39, UK

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 25: Nicola Adams of Great Britain (red) and Sandra Drabik of Poland (blue) compete in the Women's Flyweight 48-51kg finalduring da
Image: Flyweight Nicola Adams defends her Olympic title in Rio

Nicola Adams will head Britain's largest Olympic boxing squad for 32 years in Rio this summer.

The Olympic flyweight champion was named in a 12-strong squad which includes two women and 10 men.

"I love representing Great Britain and being part of Team GB at major multi-sport events," said Adams.

Nicola Adams of Great Britain poses with her gold medal from the Women's Boxing Flyweight (48-51kg)
Image: Adams poses with one of her many gold medals

"Great Britain has never had a two-time Olympic champion so I am really looking forward to defending my title in Rio and having the opportunity to make history for a second time."

Adams, who has won world, Commonwealth and European Games titles since becoming the first woman to win Olympic boxing gold, is joined by middleweight Savannah Marshall.

Savannah Marshall won her opening fight in Kazakhstan
Image: Hartlepool's Savannah Marshall is aiming to make up for the disappointment of London 2012

Commonwealth champion Marshall, who lost her opening quarter-final bout at London 2012, booked her ticket to Rio at the World Championships in May where she won a bronze medal.

Super-heavyweight Joe Joyce, who has won Commonwealth and European titles and World Championship bronze in 2015, will compete in his final tournament before turning professional.

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Joe Joyce of the British Lionhearts celebrates beating Brandon Lynch of the USA Knockouts
Image: Joe Joyce is planing to turn professional after Rio

"I watched the last Olympics as a spectator and saw how brilliantly Team GB performed so now to be part of it is an amazing feeling," said Joyce.

Hackney fighter Lawrence Okolie has been selected in the heavyweight division, while Joshua Buatsi carries British hopes at light-heavyweight.

Anthony Fowler of British Lionhearts
Image: Anthony Fowler in action for the British Lionhearts

Commonwealth Games champion Anthony Fowler is included at middleweight, and Josh Kelly and Pat McCormack are selected at welterweight and light-welterweight respectively.

European champion Joe Cordina is set to compete at lightweight, while European silver medallist Qais Ashfaq will fight at bantamweight and Muhammad Ali and Galal Yafai round off the team in the flyweight and light-flyweight divisions.

Team GB sit third on the overall boxing medal table having won 53 medals at the Olympic Games - 17 gold, 12 silver and 24 bronze.

"To qualify a full team of men and fill 12 of the 13 places available to us is a fantastic achievement by all of the boxers who have performed superbly and thoroughly deserve the reward of representing Team GB in Rio," said Rob McCracken, team leader and GB performance director.

The selected athletes are:

Women

Nicola Adams, 33, Leeds (flyweight, 51kg)

Savannah Marshall, 25, Hartlepool (middleweight, 60kg)

Men

Galal Yafai, 23, Birmingham (light-flyweight, 49kg)

Muhammad Ali, 20, Bury (flyweight 52kg)

Qais Ashfaq, 23, Leeds (bantamweight 56kg)

Joe Cordina, 24, Cardiff (lightweight 60kg)

Pat McCormack, 21, Birtley (light-welterweight 64kg)

Josh Kelly, 22, Sunderland (welterweight 69kg)

Antony Fowler, 25, Liverpool (middleweight 75kg)

Joshua Buatsi, 23, South Croydon (light-heavyweight 81kg)

Lawrence Okolie, 23, London (heavyweight 91kg)

Joe Joyce, 30, London (super-heavyweight 91kg)

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