Box Cup medals sign of Highland Boxing Academy's progress
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Highland Boxing Academy’s medal haul from the Lonsdale Box Cup is a sign of the progress being made at the club, according to head coach Liam Foy.
HBA boxers returned from Cumbria with five medals – two golds and three silvers – as well as a Lonsdale belt.
John Duncan was the star of the weekend, claiming the belt by defeating the defending champion in his final.
Ben Bartlett was the other champion, despite moving up a weight class, with a first round stoppage to take gold.
Ewan Gliniecki and Ewan Murray were both unfortunate to end up on the wrong side of split decisions in the final bouts.
Emily MacDonald’s also claimed silver when she reached the final of her category but lost by unanimous decision.
Foy says the performance of the HBA squad as a whole was a big achievement, and a sign that they are only getting better.
“I think we definitely left our mark on the tournament,” Foy insisted.
“Being within a whisker of coming back with four out of six was good, but it was still great to come back with two.
“It was great experience for the team as a whole.
“We’ve taken five medals, two golds and three silvers from it, so we’ve stepped up with the amount of golds that we’ve taken.
“I can see that being a trend with the boxers we have at the club, that’s part of them getting the experience at these tournaments.
“They’re only going to fare better the more opportunities like that they are given.”
It may have been an extremely successful weekend, but Foy has already turned his attention to what is coming next – and another Box Cup.
“This is the time of year you want to be busy, it’s the business end of the season and our club is highly active just now,” he said.
“We’re just back in the door from Lonsdale, and we’ve got our home show which is on May 4.
“Then as it stands we’ve got four going down to the Hull Box Cup.”
