Young boxers fly to Canada for Olympic-style clash

A team of young boxers is heading to Canada to compete in one of the country’s largest international tournaments.

The fighters from Brandon Boxing Club, in County Durham, have been fundraising for a year to pay for the 10-night trip.

They will compete in the Brampton Box Cup, an Olympic-style event, in a field of more than 500 boxers from around the world.

Twelve-year-old Mia “The Machine” said she “really wants to win” her bouts, but will “learn and get better” if she happens to lose.

A total of 14 of the club’s boxers are heading out to Canada, including 28-year-old professional fighter Callum Wilson.

The youngest amateur is just 10 years old.

Head coach Alex Oliver said: “The amateurs will compete in the Box Cup over the course of four days and Callum will get some world-class sparring over there ahead of his professional bout in March.

“So it’s great experience for them all.”

Mr Oliver said the club had taken its younger members to mini box cups in Sweden and Ireland, but wanted to do a bigger trip.

The team will use their free time to visit some of Canada’s famous landmarks, such as the CN Tower and Niagara Falls.

But despite travelling across the Atlantic, training will not slow down.

“We will be training in the morning and we will be checking weights, so there’s no misbehaviour,” Mr Oliver said.

“We are not going to make up the numbers, we’re going to win some medals.”

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