As Dillian Whyte prepares to fight New Zealander Joseph Parker at the O2 tonight (28 July), his former gym, Miguel’s in Loughborough Junction, is celebrating the remarkable feat of finishing second in the Haringey Box Cup – Europe’s largest amateur boxing event.
Miguel’s boxers won four gold medals over the course of the weekend event at Alexandra Palace in North London.
Competing against nearly 100 clubs from across Europe – almost all much larger and with far greater resources – Miguel’s, headed by coach Mike Burton, finished second only to Bethnal Green’s world-famous Repton Boxing Club, where a number of world champions and Olympic gold medallists have trained.
Burton said he was “absolutely delighted” with the performances of his young charges as the club put in the best performance in its history.
Alex Richards avenged her defeat in last year’s final, beating Emma McCulloch in the Female A 48kg class, with Ella Harris winning the Female C category at the same weight.
The other winners over the weekend were Iduino Balde, who won his Senior B 75kg final against Rob Magill, and fast-talking heavy-weight Kheron Gilpin who defeated Iman Zahmatkesh to lift the title in the Senior B 91kg weight division.
The future looks bright for Miguel’s under the tutelage of Burton. A number of promising fighters are already starting to make their mark and more talent is waiting in the wings.
