Stubbs captures gold-medal glory

Thomas Stubbs: Comfortable win.

European title for talented boxer
CHADDERTON boxer Thomas Stubbs has punched his way to glory in the European Championships.

The 19-year-old was crowned the 48kg champion after a convincing 15–3 points victory over Pole Lukasz Maszczyk in the final in Odensk, Denmark.

Former North Chadderton School pupil Stubbs, twice a winner of the ABA title, had set out to conquer Europe.

And it proved an easier event than first envisaged as Ireland’s Paddy Barnes, a bronze medallist in the Beijing Olympic Games, was one of a number of high-profile withdrawals through illness and injury.

It left Stubbs, who boxes for Northside ABC, with a bye to the final, where he met the vastly experienced Maszczyk.

The 25-year-old had competed in the last five Europeans, winning one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

But it was the convincing manner of the win which enhanced the growing reputation of Stubbs, who has his eyes on claiming gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

After his success in the Europeans, it looks likely Stubbs will be chosen to box for Great Britain at the World Championships in Milan later in the year.

And the successes of Stubbs is also likely to earn elevation in status for 2012.

Stubbs currently receives funding from boxing’s development squad but is in line for promotion to the podium squad, the elite group which have realistic medal hopes.

He has also signed a contract at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, where he trains, to 2013. This means he won’t turn professional before the London Olympics.

Stubbs is looking for sponsorship and ideally would like a car to make it easier to commute to Sheffield for training.