Going from strength-to-strength.
That is Kiaran Macdonald, who is closing in on a place at Paris 2024.
The Sunderland ABC star is one of three Tyne, Tees & Wear boxers selected in the GB squad for the Olympic qualifying event in Italy from March 4-11.
Macdonald will be joined by Blyth’s Savannah Stubley and Jack Dryden, from Newcastle, in the 10-strong team for the qualifier in Busto Arsizio, north west of Milan.
It is a second crack at the Olympics for Kiaran who narrowly missed out in the first qualifier in Poland last summer.
All three TTW boxers go into the ring boosted by medals at the World Boxing Cup: GB Open in Sheffield last month.
Macdonald looks in great nick after two tremendous bouts at the English Institute of Sport.
The flyweight was involved in a terrific scrap with team-mate Scott Richards in his opening contest, beating the Welshman via a unanimous points verdict.
That set him up with a gold medal decider against Germany’s Salah Ibrahim as the pair continued their intense rivalry.
Macdonald ended their ‘series’ in 2023 up by 2-1 only to be behind after the first three minutes in Sheffield.
But the southpaw came up trumps in the final two rounds to clinch a close, but surely deserved, points victory by three judges to two.
“I feel like I’m going from strength-to-strength as I keep gaining experience and progressing at these tournaments,” said the 26-year-old.
“It feels extra special, losing out on the Olympic bout at the European Games was devastating and I’ve built a lot of resilience from that.
“I’ve almost rebuilt myself into a new version ahead of the next qualifying event.”
Whether he needed to rebuild anything is debatable given his form over the last couple of years, but you saw real intent in his punches in Sheffield, mixed with his incredible footwork.
Like Macdonald, Stubley registered two terrific wins at the GB Open to clinch gold at U50 kilos and earn selection for Italy.
The Empire ABC star was also involved in an all-GB affair first time out and produced thew goods when defeating England’s Demie-Jade Resztan on a 3-2 split of the ringside judges.
That hard-fought success was followed up decisively in the final, where she stopped Germany’s Maxi Klotzer in the third round.
“It was a tough contest up against Demie who is a close friend,” she said.
“I knew it was going to be close and I had to dig deep.
“I’ve had lots of help from coaches both at home and at GB so a big thank you to them and my sponsors also for giving me that support.”
Injury prevented Dryden for challenging for a gold medal, but the Birtley ABC featherweight did chalk up a good unanimous points win at the GB Open against Mahmoud Al Chabtoun, from the Netherlands.
Like Macdonald, the Italian job will be Jack’s second attempt at qualifying after falling at the second hurdle at the European Games in Poland last summer.
Should things not go to plan at Busto Arsizio, there is a third and final qualifying opportunity in Bangkok from May 26 to June 2.
Fellow TTW boxer Joe Tyers missed out on selection in the light-welterweight category, with GB picking Londoner Patris Mughalzai, who won a unanimous verdict when the team-mates met in the Sheffield final.
But, like Macdonald and Stubley, the Billingham Boxing Academy talent did clock up two great wins at the GB Open.
Tyers began with a 4-1 split victory over Czech Republic’s Erik Suchy before prevailing in a fierce contest with Germany’s Assai Hansen 3-2 in the semi-final.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: GB Boxing
