Six Future Stars From The 2022 Commonwealth Games
Birmingham, England is the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with 231 fighters, including 59 women and 172 men, representing 55 nations from all five boxing Confederations.
While there are more than 5,000 athletes competing in 280 events across 19 different sports inside 10 days, boxing is typically the most prominent.
As so much talent is on show at The National Exhibition Centre Precinct in the bid to become Commonwealth champion, a huge honour in amateur boxing, there are many future stars taking to the ring.
With the likes of former heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis and undisputed light-welterweight ruler Josh Taylor having come through this event, among many others, here are six current Commonwealth fighters who could shine in the near future.
Delicious Orie (England)
Aiming to surpass his idol Anthony Joshua in his own career, Delicious Orie is the new number one super-heavyweight star on the GB Boxing roster.
Mentored by former Olympic Bronze medallist and now professional fighter, Frazer Clarke, he has his sights set on the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Born in a town near Moscow to a Nigerian father and a Russian mother, he moved to Birmingham at a young age with his family after suffering from racial prejudice due to the colour of his skin.
After an initial dream of playing in the NBA, Orie turned from basketball to boxing at 18 years of age and has since become a leading contender for podium success across the international amateur scene at the major events.
Aidan Walsh (Ireland)
Ireland’s hugely talented Aidan Walsh arrived at the 2022 Commonwealth Games fresh off an Olympic Bronze medal success in Tokyo, Japan.
The Belfast light-middleweight star is the current captain of the Irish boxing squad and has a wealth of amateur experience at just 25 years old.
Fighting alongside his sister, Michaela Walsh, on the Emerald Isle roster, he has an eye-catching and slick style that can see him go far with further medal success before hitting the professional ranks.
Mohammed Hussamuddin (India)
India’s Mohammed Hussamuddin has continued to shine on the international scene with his dominant displays in the Commonwealth Games.
Another medal success followed up his Bronze back at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the bantamweight division, adding to his ever-growing list of honours.
Hussamuddin comes from a fighting family, with both his father and brother having also represented their country in international amateur events.
Further podium triumphs look inevitable for the Indian star before a potential move to the professionals at a later date, if that’s the path he chooses to follow.
Reese Lynch (Scotland)
Scotland has a rich history of producing top level fighters from the amateur scene through to the professional ranks.
Reese Lynch looks set to be one of those next future stars, rallying to medal glory at the Commonwealth Games to follow up his World Championships success recently.
The 21-year-old southpaw became Scotland’s first-ever medallist at the Amateur World Championships, with his superb performances at light-welterweight seeing him clinch Bronze on the podium in Belgrade.
Lewis Richardson (England)
After securing Silver at the European Championships, England’s Lewis Richardson has maintained his rise to prominence with more medal success at the Commonwealth Games.
The Colchester-born middleweight has become a shining star within the Team England set-up and previously had to overcome a serious injury setback in order to reach this stage of his promising career.
Richardson has had to battle back from severe stress fractures in his back four years ago in order to take his career to new levels and showcase his full repertoire of ring skills off in Birmingham.
Tina Rahimi (Australia)
Earlier in 2022, Tina Rahimi became national champion in her native Australia despite a serious shoulder ligament injury.
That victory against the odds saw her qualify for the Commonwealth Games and, subsequently, earn herself a place in history.
Rahimi became Australia's first-ever female Muslim boxer to compete at the showpiece event.
The Sydney featherweight and former make-up artist trained all the way through Ramadan and always devotes time to praying five times a day alongside her boxing career.
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