England’s boxing team achieved a remarkable feat at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with Isaac Okoh becoming the sixth athlete to secure a spot in Saturday’s finals. The team saw five of their six representatives advance during the first two sessions on Friday.
During the afternoon, both Chantelle Reid and Isaac Okoh delivered composed performances, each earning unanimous 5-0 victories. They followed the earlier successes of Sacha Hickey, Patris Mughalzai, and Dimeji Shittu, who all advanced in the morning. Additionally, Damar Thomas moved directly into the 90+kg final after his opponent, Willie John McCartan of Northern Ireland, withdrew due to an elbow injury.
Lauren Mackie remains the only English competitor to fall in the semi-finals, losing to Canada’s Scarlett Delgado. Three further English fighters are slated for the evening session. Reid stood out by defeating Australia’s world number two Lekeisha Pergoliti. The 28-year-old, who recently returned from a long hiatus caused by a spinal condition, views this progress as essential preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games.
In the heavyweight division, 22-year-old Okoh silenced the local supporters by defeating Scotland’s Robert McNulty. Okoh remained focused throughout the match, ultimately prevailing with a unanimous judges’ decision. Meanwhile, Hickey, Mughalzai, and Shittu are also set to contend for gold medals against various international opponents in their respective weight classes.
