BOXING: LEAMINGTON’s Lewis Williams is preparing himself for the biggest fight of his career after travelling with the England squad to take part in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Russia.
The 18-year-old Clearys ABC fighter flew out with 13-man squad to St Petersburg for the ten-day tournament after impressing the selectors during a series of assessment camps throughout the year at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Williams will represent his country in the 91kg category and could potentially box up to seven times against opponents from all around the world.
He is expected to find out who his first opponent is today (Thursday) before taking to the ring for the first time on Saturday inside the 7,000 capacity Sibur Arena.
“I think this is the biggest week for Leamington boxing for over 20 years,” said coach Edwin Cleary.
“Lewis always trains hard but has really put the work in over the last months traveling up and down to Sheffield, Bristol and Belfast for camps. He’s been sparring senior elite boxers and more than holding his own he’s more than ready.
“Just getting to the Youth World Championships is a great achievement for the clearys boxer. It’s a lot to ask of Lewis in his first ever international tournament going to the worlds but Lewis is a special boxer.
“He’s come a long way since he first walked onto the gym four years ago. He isn’t there just to make up the numbers, he’s going there with a real chance of bringing back gold. We believe he’s the number one. Lewis is ready. It’s show time.”
Over 400 boxers from 75 countries will be fighting it out in Russia with the likes of 2015 Junior World Champions Mahammad Abdullayev (Azerbaijan), Cosmin Petre Girleanu (Romania), Bilolbek Mirzarakhimov (Uzbekistan) and Dainier Pero Justiz (Cuba) all registered for the competition.
Martin Webb is the team manager for England with Paul Bennett leading the coaching team and he is joined by Mick Driscoll and Mally MacIver.
While Williams is away in Russia, there is more exciting news closer to home this weekend with Danny Quartermaine and Jake Finch both in CYP quarter-final action in Coventry on Sunday.
