LEWIS Williams will have the chance to secure Olympic qualification at the upcoming European Games.
This year’s European Games take place in Krakow, Poland with the boxing event to begin on Friday, June 23 with 44 Olympic qualification places on offer.
Williams won gold at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Leamington heavyweight hopes to add to the bronze medal he won at the European Championships last year.
Cleary’s Boxing Gym fighter Williams is part of a 13-strong GB squad which includes 2021 European champion Harris Akbar and fellow Commonwealth gold medallists Delicious Orie and Reese Lynch.
The women’s team includes Birmingham gold medallist Rosie Eccles, silver medallist Demie-Jade Resztan and Tokyo Olympian Charley Davison.
GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken said: “The Paris Olympic cycle is shorter than the usual four years (owing to Covid) and means this qualifying event has come around very early, so this will be a test for the boxers.
“The European Games is always a top-quality competition and I expect this one to be especially challenging.
“It will be competitive in every weight class and our boxers will need to be at their best to secure qualification as they are competing for a relatively small number of Olympic places.
“Changes to the weight categories for Paris 2024 mean the men’s selection was particularly competitive and has resulted in a lot of talented boxers in the GB Boxing squad missing out on this occasion which is disappointing because many of them have the ability to go to the Olympic Games and do well.
“It is unfortunate but this is the harsh reality of elite sport and means that the boxers we have selected need to look forward to the challenge and make the most of this opportunity.”
