What a way to start what could be breakthrough year for Kiaran Macdonald.
The talented Sunderland southpaw struck gold at the Belgrade Winner tournament, winning the flyweight title in the Serbian capital.
His victory over Kyrgyzstan’s Nurzhigit Diushebaev was the only gold for the Great Britain team of nine men and women who had a productive week, winning six medals.
It meant Macdonald got in tune for major tournament boxing in 2022 in some style ahead of the European Championships in May and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
There, he’ll be aiming to follow in the ringsteps of David Dolan and Pat McCormack by bringing Commonwealth gold to Wearside.
As well as finishing off in Serbia against Kyrgyzstan opposition, it’s how he started the competition too by outpointing Anvarzhan Khodzhiev.
He had other ‘Stans’ to see off on the way to the final, Kazakhstan boxers, Daniyal Sabit in the last eight and Kuanysh Duisenbay in the semis, beating both by unanimous verdicts.
The 25-year-old was in stunning form from start to finish in Belgrade, his triumph over Diushebaev on the final day of the event also coming via all the judges.
It was the Sunderland ABC star’s fourth bout in five days and his first gold since the Socikas tournament in Lithuania in May 2021.
Kieran said: “It’s great to be back on top of the podium.
“It was a busy week, fighting four times and it’s great to bring back the gold.
“There were a lot of tough nations at this tournament and getting four fights in has been great preparation for the European Championships that we have coming up in May.”
Having played sending fiddle to the brilliant Galal Yafai, who he helped win gold in Tokyo, it has been a good season for Macdonald.
He gained vital experience at his first World Championships where he had the misfortune to draw former Olympic finalist and Worlds bronze medallist, Yuberjén Martínez.
it was a good week for the British boxers in Serbia.
Wales’s Helen Jones and Rosie Eccles won silver at light-flyweight and welter, while Tokyo Olympian, Charley Davison, was the runner-up in the women’s flyweight division.
Bronze medals went to Ramtin Musah in the men’s middleweight division and Shona Whitwell in the women’s lightweight competition.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: GB Boxing
