Joe Tyers has celebrated his promotion to GB Boxing’s podium squad by taking the title at the Golden Gong Tournament in North Macedonia.
The North-East talent won three bouts in three days with his victory over Ireland’s Dean Clancy one of the highlights of a golden Sunday for the British squad in Skopje.
GB took six boxers to the Macedonian capital and four clinched championship triumphs, Aaron Bowen, Hamza Mehmood, John O’Meara and Tyers, with Courtney Bennett winning silver.
Following medal success at the Olympic Games and a creditable effort at the Worlds, GB Boxing took away a squad of podium and academy boxers to the Golden Gong to build their championship experience.
And what an experience.
It was a tournament to savour for Tyers, who is now boxing out of Billingham Boxing Academy following his time at Darlington ABC, where he enjoyed tremendous success.
Before the Covid crisis, young Joe had shown his talent in 2019, reaching the lightweight final of the National Amateur Championship (or the ABAs in ‘old money’), where he looked unlucky to lose to Londoner Masood Abdullah, but he did win the GB Championship later that year by defeating Subaan Ahmed in style in Sheffield.
Style is something Joe has in abundance after introducing himself on the international scene.
He upset the hosts in his quarter-final after beating Macedonia’s Dion Lena by a unanimous points decision to set up a last-four bout with Bulgaria’s representative.
And all the judges marked Saturday’s semi-final against Emmanuil Bogoev his way to take his place in the final.
Tyers was crowned light-welterweight champion in the Boris Trajkovski Hall after a split-decision victory over Ireland’s Dean Clancy.
The 50th anniversary of the Golden Gong was something for the British squad to celebrate.
Hamza Mehmood won flyweight gold via a unanimous verdict against Shaban Dimitrov, from Bulgaria.
In an England v Ireland match at featherweight, John O’Meara beat Sean Purcell by a unanimous decision.
Aaron Bowen was victorious on all judges cards at light-heavy against Montenegro’s Emir Sabotic.
Courtney Bennett, unfortunately, lost out on a split to Dimitrije Milic, from Montenegro, but silver represents a good return following his absence since the 2019 GB Championships.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: GB Boxing
