No gold but Kiaran Macdonald sees a silver lining from another podium finish at a major international event.
The talented Sunderland boxer finished the Liventsev tournament in Belarus as runner-up after losing the U52 kilo final to the excellent Azat Usenaliyev .
‘Special K’ was beaten on a split decision with four of the five judges scoring it to the top-line operator from Kyrgyzstan, a four-time World Championship competitor.
Defeat, of course, was a disappointment but three good wins en route to the final in Minsk has strengthened the Wearsider’s confidence and ambition.
“I am a bit gutted,” Macdonald told punch-lines. “I was up against a great fighter, but I thought I’d done enough to get gold.
“It was nip and tuck but I believed I’d won the first and third, and I think Azat thought I’d done enough.
“But I’ve no complaints, that’s the sort of boxers you want to be competing with and I more than competed with him.
“It was a really good week, I boxed three times to get to the final and boxed well.”
It was a cracking effort from the 22-year-old who had only just recovered from ligament damage which had seen him spend eight weeks in a protective boot.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so unprepared for a tournament,” he explained. “It was touch and go.
“I did four spars and no running, but I needed to get out there.”
Macdonald did himself and the GB team proud wth wins over Belarus duo, Ramil Aliyeu and Aliaksandr Butrym, plus Spain’s Gabriel Escobar.
It means Macdonald remains very much focused on winning a place at the 2020 Olympic Games.
You would day Macdonald is an outside bet for Tokyo, given his direct competition is Galal Yafai, recently a World Championship quarter-finalist, but Kiaran intends to “push him all the way”.
“We push each other all the time,” he added. “We have different styles – Galal is come-forward and aggressive and I am more of a counter-puncher.
“I’m right behind him and I’ve got to keep up the pressure.
“It’s been a good year for me, winning silver at the European Under 22 championship and now this in Minsk. I’m growing in confidence all the time.”
It was a golden day for GB in the final in Belarus, with Shona Whitwell defeating Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee by a unanimous verdict and Jordan Reynolds beating Vitali Bandarenka, from Belarus, via a split decision.
Like Macdonald, Kerry Davis had to settle for silver, losing on a split to Veber Alina from host nation, Belarus.
Words: Roy Kelly
