A Liverpool student is celebrating after winning gold at the 2023 GB Three Nations Boxing Championships.
Rhea Kanu, a second year Sport Rehabilitation student at Liverpool Hope University, won the Female Elite Under-52kg category to claim her maiden international title.
The 19-year-old, who fights out of Halton Boxing Club in Widnes, secured the gold medal with a unanimous 5-0 decision over compatriot Abbie McKay at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.
“Winning gold in the Three Nations is my best achievement in boxing,” said Rhea, who gave her opponent a standing eight count in first round.
“I’m made up. I’ve worked so hard, sacrificed a lot and put everything into balancing my training with my university work.
“I felt sharp and I knew what I needed to do, so it was just a case of going out there and performing.
“My opponent had a similar record to mine and had fought in the Three Nations previously, but I went out there and performed and had the upper hand on her in every round.”
The GB Three Nations tournament sees the best amateur boxers from England, Scotland and Wales compete against each other in a tri-annual tournament.
Rhea received her first England call-up for the latest edition after winning a silver medal at the England Boxing National Amateur Championship in April.
Her success in that competition earned her an invitation to assessment camps for trials for the Great Britain squad and, if successful, the Liverpool Hope student will have the opportunity to box against fighters from across the globe.
“I am very proud to have represented England and hopefully opens up more opportunities for me,” she added.
“I am currently completing assessment weekends down in Sheffield for England and Great Britain, where my technical ability, fitness, sparring and my ability to adjust to different opponents is tested.
“It’s something I have never done before but I was invited down after my performances at the national championships and so far it’s been a great experience.
“I will find out whether I have made the team at the end of June and, if I do, I will continue to train with the top boxers in the country and compete against other nations and maybe even for the Olympics.”