Proud Portsmouth pair are England’s best after explosive impact
Portsmouth are celebrating two new national champions, as the latest boxers come off the city’s conveyor belt of talent.
Portsmouth’s girl power came to the fore in explosive fashion at the National Schools Championships.
Two of the most exciting emerging talents from across our communities have established themselves as the best in the country, after they lifted national titles in Northumbria.
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Heart of Portsmouth’s (HOP) Tulua Mae Smith stormed to success in the cadet section with the 12-year-old victorious at 46kg, while Paulsgrove and Ted Harris ABC’s Millie Rolfe lifted the title in the Class A category at 42kg.
Rolfe now has her eye on an international call-up as she celebrates her 13th birthday today, with selection for an England training camp this weekend.
The Paulsgrove talent made her mark with a semi-final stoppage win over Tommy Coyles’ Kaitlyn Spriggs, before stepping up in outstanding fashion in the final against Newark’s Tia Alexander.
Her coach, Paul Dyer, said: ‘England have called her up and I think they are potentially looking at her for the European Championships.
‘She moves really well, is tall, rangy and strong - she’s got the X factor.
‘It’s very early days, but her dream is to box in the Olympics - and you’ve got to have a dream.
‘God willing that can happen, because she’s got a good family around her and can go as far as she wants to go.’
Smith showcased her destructive quality with two emphatic first-round stoppages, as she entered the competition for the first time.
Team Pumpkin’s Violet Flack was defeated in the semis, before RG Boxing’s Kamille Trinkunaite was stopped after one minute of the final.
Meanwhile, European gold medallist Shane Keet, 13, went down to a narrow split-decision loss to Team Greaves’ Jim McDonagh, after beating Hall Green’s Kyrell Scott at the semi-final stage in the Class B under-60kg category.
HOP coaches Colin Brown and proud father Joey Smith were delighted with the successes.
Smith said: ‘We’re very proud of what they’ve achieved.
‘It was a hard-fought contest for Shane, I thought he’d done enough to win the title for the second year in a row.
‘We are disappointed in the decision, but Shane will be back bigger and stronger next year.
‘Both boxers performed very, very well and both have very positive futures in the sport of boxing.’