Beddington’s Charlie Edwards has been named in the British Amateur Boxing Association’s (BABA) provisional 11-man Development Squad as part of its selection process for the GB Boxing team that will compete at the 2012 Olympics in London.
The 48kg flyweight, who fights for Hollington ABC, was European Schoolboy champion in 2007.
The BABA has also announced a 21-man Podium Squad. All 32 boxers will receive funding and train at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EIS Sheffield) under Performance Director, Rob McCracken and his coaching and support team.
The Podium Squad has been enlarged (to 21) to include five boxers that will join the group on a three-month trial. It will be rationalised in the build-up to 2012.
“We have a lot of talent and at this stage I am keen to have a larger Podium Squad than has traditionally been the case as I want to maintain a competitive environment and do not want it to feel like an exclusive group,” explained the BABA’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken.
“I want the established team members to know they have to keep improving to maintain their places and the up-and-coming boxers to feel they have something to aim for and know they have the opportunity to be part of the 2012 team if they apply themselves, train hard and do well in competitions.
“The same applies to any other talented boxers out there. I am very happy with the squad we have but this is not a closed shop and if someone performs well in competition and shows they have the ability and dedication to make the grade they can force their way in.”
The Podium Squad features two boxers that competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Flyweight Khalid Yafai (51Kg) from Birmingham and Light welterweight (64Kg), Bradley Saunders from Stockton-on-Tees.
The full Podium Squad is: Squad member Weight category Home town Khalid Yafai Flyweight (51 Kg) Birmingham, England Daniel Chapman Flyweight (51 Kg) Blaengwyfi, Wales Andrew Selby Bantamweight (54Kg) Barry, Wales Gamal Yafai* Bantamweight (54Kg) Birmingham, England Leigh Woods* Bantamweight (54Kg) Nottingham, England Luke Campbell Featherweight (57Kg) Hull, England Martin Ward Featherweight (57 Kg) Romford, England Iain Weaver Featherweight (57Kg) Ferndown, England Daniel Philips Lightweight (60Kg) Middlesbrough, England Thomas Stalker Lightweight (60Kg) Liverpool, England Bradley Saunders Light welterweight (64Kg) Stockton-on Tees, England Scott Cardle Light welterweight (64Kg) Lytham, England Lewis Rees Light welterweight (64Kg) Rhondda, Wales Callum Smith* Welterweight (69Kg) Liverpool, England Frank Buglioni* Middleweight (75Kg) London, England Antony Ogogo* Middleweight (75Kg) Lowestoft, England Obed Mbwakango Light heavyweight (81 Kg) London, England Warren Baister Heavyweight (91Kg) Sunderland, England Stephen Simmons Heavyweight (91Kg) Edinburgh, Scotland Simon Vallily Heavyweight (91Kg) Middlesbrough, England Fraser Clarke Super Heavyweight (91Kg+) Burton, England * 3 month trial The Development Squad is: Squad member Weight category Home town Charlie Edwards Light flyweight (48Kg) Croydon, England Thomas Stubbs Flyweight (51 Kg) Oldham, England James Dickens Flyweight (51 Kg) Liverpool, England Zack Davies Flyweight (51 Kg) Llanelli, Wales John Quigley Featherweight (57Kg) Liverpool, England Antonio Coulihan Lightweight (60Kg) Birmingham, England Fred Evans (Light) Welterweight (64-69Kg) Cardiff, Wales Ryan Aston Welterweight/Middleweight (69-75Kg) Dudley, England Declan Fusco Light heavyweight (81 Kg) Durham, England Karl Kirkham Light heavyweight (81 Kg) Blackpool, England Amin Isa Super Heavyweight (91Kg+) London, England
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