Sunderland struck gold at Wembley, can one of the city’s most gifted boxers do the same at the European Championships?
It’s a big ask because Kiaran Macdonald is up against some of the best amateur boxers in the business in Armenia, from May 21-31.
Outside of the World Championships and Olympics, this tournament is as tough as they come in Yerevan at the far east of the continent where Europe borders Asia.
Macdonald has clocked up thousands of miles already for his country and is one of the leading boxers in the new-look Great Britain’s squad after stepping out of the shadow left by Gala Yafai, who turned professional following winning the Olympic flyweight title.
And Kiaran, whose sparring sessions helped his team-mate to gold in Tokyo, is now GB’s number one at 51 kilos.
The southpaw more than justified that status just last month when he won an international competition in Serbia.
“That has given me good momentum coming into the Europeans,” said the 25-year-old.
“I’m here with the aim of getting a medal.
“I’d love it to be a gold, but I’ll also be looking rot just go with the flow and try not to put pressure on myself.
“But I know if I box to my ability then I can bring home a medal.”
Macdonald’s belief should be strong, given that success in the Belgrade Winner tournament, even though none of his three unanimous points victories in the Serbian capital were against European opposition
Kyrgyzstan’s Nurzhigit Diushebaev was beaten in the final having previously outboxed Kazakhstan duo, Daniyal Sabit and Kuanysh Duisenbay.
“I didn’t box a European but it was a good tournament to win, the level of opponents was so strong,” he told punch-lines.
“Kazakhstan is a massive boxing nation.
“They were tough fights so it was nice to get the ball rolling there before the Europeans.
“This is my first senior Euros and I’m hoping it’s my time to shine.
“The draw hasn’t been made yet so I don’t know who I’ve got, but there are a lot of fighters I’ve been in with already.
“In my years on the GB squad I’ve probably been in the ring with 90 per cent of them.”
It will be Macdonald’s second major tournament, having boxed at the World Championships in the autumn.
Unfortunately for Kiaran, it proved a short engagement after being drawn against Olympic finalist and World bronze medallist, Yuberjén Martínez.
Hopefully, this week in Armenia will be much kinder and there will be more for Wearside to celebrate.
Words: Roy Kelly
