Golden Glove winner McDonagh dominates another Box Cup final on behalf of the Peterborough PAL Club
Peterborough PAL Boxing Club returned from the prestigious Global Glove BoxCup in Bolton with an impressive haul of medals after taking on some of the best young talent from across Europe.
The international tournament attracted boxers from throughout the continent, all competing for the coveted Golden Gloves titles. Peterborough PAL entered three boxers and came away with one gold medal and two silvers following a weekend of outstanding performances.
First into action was 16-year-old Yannis Roman in the Junior 57kg semi-final. Producing a superb display of skill and composure, Yannis dominated proceedings with slick counter-punching against a determined opponent. His impressive performance earned him a deserved points victory and a place in the final.
The finals saw all three Peterborough PAL boxers competing for gold. Thirteen-year-old Patrick James Maughan was first up in the Schools 46kg category. Despite narrowly missing out on victory in a closely contested bout, he showed tremendous determination throughout and gave an excellent account of himself. His efforts were rewarded with a silver medal.
Coach Paul Goode said: “I was really proud of PJ’s performance. He stayed in the fight from start to finish and can hold his head high after a tremendous effort.”
Yannis was next into the ring but struggled to find his usual range against a strong northern opponent, eventually settling for a silver medal after a hard-fought contest.
The club’s golden moment came courtesy of 14-year-old William McDonagh in the 80kg light leavyweight division. Fresh from winning another BoxCup title just weeks earlier, he faced a tough challenge from a boxer representing Paramount ABC.
McDonough’s timing was exceptional during the opening two rounds, repeatedly landing his powerful southpaw back hand. The final round developed into a thrilling toe-to-toe battle, with both boxers refusing to give an inch. Showing outstanding heart, determination and mental toughness, McDonagh dug deep to secure a unanimous points victory and claim the coveted Golden Gloves title.
“William is a big, strong talent and we’re excited to see how he continues to progress in the ring,” added Goode.