Golden girl Olivia powers to stunning first round victory - The Redditch Standard

Golden girl Olivia powers to stunning first round victory

Redditch Editorial 29th Sep, 2015 Updated: 18th Oct, 2016   0

STUDLEY schoolgirl Olivia Freeman delivered a knockout performance to claim gold medal glory at the Haslev Box Cup tournament in Denmark.

The international event, which brings together boxers from seven different countries to compete over three days in September each year, is one of Europe’s prestige boxing tournaments.

Olivia, who boxes for The Jewellery Quarter Boxing Club in Birmingham, boxed in the Grand Final on Saturday and was pitted against an experienced opponent from the boxing powerhouse that is Ireland.

The Studley teenager was relishing the chance to prove herself on the international stage as contests within England have become very difficult to obtain due to the extremely high level of performance that 14-year-old Olivia has been producing over the past 12 months.




Understandably there were some nerves as Olivia stepped into the ring and there was a buzz of excitement in the arena as the crowd waited to witness these two accomplished performers test their skills on the big stage.

The first bell rang and both boxers met in the middle of the ring with a furious exchange of blows.


The Ireland girl took a strong straight left from the English southpaw and was rocked back across the ring and Olivia, sensing she had made a dent in her opponent’s composure, pushed forward and unleashed a four-punch combination which saw the bewildered Irish girl stumble on to the ropes.

Olivia was in no mood for hanging around and immediately followed up with a right hook to the body and a superbly timed uppercut which forced the referee to step in and halt the contest with just 30 seconds of the first round completed.

With more than 70 bouts taking place across the weekend, the destructive punching power of Olivia had secured the quickest knockout victory of the whole tournament as she won the gold medal in the process.

Olivia said: “It has been a wonderful experience for me boxing in my first international tournament and I didn’t want it to end as I was enjoying the experience so much.

“My opponent was very strong and was pushing me very hard but fortunately I was able to land the punches I have been working on in the gym.

“I will now go back to the gym and keep working hard in preparation for our own England Boxing National Championships later in the year.

“I would also like to thank my friends and family for supporting me in my boxing career and really appreciate the work which my coaches Mick Maguire and Nigel Lakin have put in to get me ready for this tournament.”

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