A Liverpool Hope University student has been selected to represent England in the upcoming Three Nations boxing tournament.
Nineteen-year-old Rhea Kanu, from Liverpool, will test herself against some of best amateur fighters Britain has to offer when she makes her international debut in the prestigious tournament at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham between Friday 26 May and Sunday 28 May.
The second year BSc (Hons) Sport Rehabilitation student, who fights out of Halton Boxing Club in the under-52kg category, will face off against fighters from Scotland and Wales in the round-robin competition.
Rhea has been boxing for seven years and has a record of six wins and six defeats from her 12 fights.
The orthodox fighter was selected to fight for England after winning a silver medal at the England Boxing National Amateur Championship in April.
“I am very proud to be representing England and hopefully this is just another way of opening up more opportunities for me,” she said.
“Winning a silver medal at the national championships was a great experience. I fought a girl [in the final] who has a lot more experience and has won many championships from a young age.
“Even though I didn’t get the decision, I was made up to make it that far in the competition.
“I had only started training around five weeks before, so I was over the moon to perform the way I did.”
As a result of her success, Rhea has been invited to attend further assessment camps for trials for the Great Britain squad.
She will take part in three training weekends at England Boxing’s headquarters in Sheffield and, if selected, will have the opportunity to compete against other nations from across the globe.
“I have to complete 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.
“I was invited down after my recent performances and so far it’s been a great experience for me as it’s something I have never done before.
“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.”