CHARLEY DAVISON must be a candidate for Britain’s toughest mum. The mother of three had been out of the sport for seven years before returning to her club in Lowestoft. She managed to win the national championships last year, a feat in itself, before making a sudden ascent to the international team. She only joined the GB squad in January and did enough to be selected for the Olympic team. Her first bout in the GB vest came on Monday (March 16) in the European Olympic qualification event at the Copper Box.
But Davison showed little ring rust and no hesitancy as she took control of her bout with Ireland’s Carly McNaul from the first round. She tagged McNaul with her lead right and began to harry her with sharp one-twos.
Davison dominated the second round and in the third subjected McNaul to two standing counts. The Briton won a unanimous decision, especially impressive as McNaul is a Commonwealth silver medallist.
“I think I boxed really well, considering I haven’t boxed in a long time. Obviously I had sparring up in Sheffield but it’s totally different to getting in there, especially at an Olympic qualifier. I felt I could have been a little bit sharper but I think the nerves were a little bit there. The first one is always the shaky one,” Davison said calmly. “I am a bit hard on myself but you always want to improve every time you box. You never stop learning.”
The event went behind closed doors on Monday. Davison’s supporters, included her eldest child, were due to come for her first bout. Instead they had to watch it on television. “It doesn’t really affect me because you’ve still got your team cheering you on. When you’re in the ring you don’t really listen to the crowd anyway,” she said. “Just get the job done.”
Which is precisely what Davison did.
