Two boxers from Double Jab win England Boxing Development Championships

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Two boxers from New Cross-based Double Jab ABC won gold at the recent England Boxing Development Championships.

Welterweight Sedem Ama and Machindo Mwambazi both were both crowned national champions.

Ama has a 10-0 record and had won three tournaments at 69kgs – the Haringey Box Cup, London Development and National Development (class A).

In the London finals the Peckham-raised fighter defeated Patricia Mbata (Finchley ABC) on a unanimous decision and did the same in the national pre-quarters to move past Juliette Horwood (Evolve Boxing Club).

A third round stoppage of Anetta Bereto (Golden Ring) set up a semi-final split decision verdict over Melissa Dickinson (Wimborne Boxing).

Ama, 29, was an emphatic second-round stoppage winner over Rhiannon Roberts (South Wye Police Boxing Academy) in the final.

“I am back in the gym to prepare for what I hope to be a big 2020 – staying active and gaining experience in various tournaments ahead of advancing to ‘open class’ for the National Elite Championship,” said Ama, whose family live in Croydon.

“I am juggling a full-time job as a senior PR manager while training with my coach Aaron McLeish at Fight City Gym where I am surrounded by stablemate Samuel Antwi, the former Southern Area welterweight champion.

“I also split my time at Double Jab amateur boxing club in New Cross, who I compete for, where fellow national development champion Machindo Mwambazi trains.

“I got into boxing quite late. I don’t view this as a hindrance because I don’t have the natural wear and tear of someone who has been boxing for more or less their whole lives. Instead I am competing in a sport that I truly enjoy and have the right people around me to help me improve and succeed.”

Mwambazi competed in the 86kgs (class B). He got a unanimous decision against Danny Maslack (PEJ) in his last-eight clash before a split points verdict over Leigh Pelan (St Ives).

Mwambazi won a unanimous decision over Jordan Wizard (Eccles Boxing School) in the final.

He said: “Winning this championship means everything to me – it felt like make or break. I reached the finals last year and didn’t get the gold medal so it was an internal battle and showed me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.

“I’m so happy I have cemented my place as the best in the country.”

ALL PICTURES BY ANDY CHIBB