Hunslet Club boxer Abby Briggs eyes Olympics after silver on her England bow

Already a national champion, 14-year-old Briggs is now facing older opposition in her first year as a Junior following two fine years in Schools competitions.

Having taken silver medals at both the 2018 and 2019 European Schools Championships, the Cockburn High School pupil’s 2020 began with a trip to Serbia to represent England in the Nations Cup for Women in Sombor.

After successful bouts in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, the 60kg fighter was only denied victory in the final by her older Russian opponent, Nadezhda Golubeva, who is already a two-time national champion.

For thriving Briggs, the England Boxing National Junior Championships in Liverpool in March are now next.

Briggs’ trainer at the Hunslet Club, Dennis Robbins, said: “Abby competed very well out there.

“Her first bout was in the quarter-finals against a German girl which she won on points and another win on points followed against a girl from Cyprus in the semi-finals.

“In the final she faced a Russian girl who is the year above and already the two-time European champion and Abby boxed well but the Russian beat her in a competitive bout.

“Abby’s next competition is the England Boxing National Junior Championships and Abby is unbeaten in the UK so has to be favourite to pick up the 60kg crown.

“If successful, Abby should be selected for England to box in the European Juniors in June where she may meet the Russian again.”

Briggs’ long-term goal is to represent Great Britain at either the Los Angeles 2028 or Paris 2024 Olympics before turning professional.