New dawn for CI boxing as islands join forces in Liverpool

Thursday 08 February 2024

Guernsey and Jersey boxers are joining forces in a Channel Island Select team that it is hoped will be an avenue for growth.

A 14-strong squad line up at Greenbank Sports Centre in Liverpool tomorrow against a selection of the best boxers from the Merseyside & Cheshire Amateur Boxing Association.

The squad is formed from six Sarnian and eight Caesarean fighters.

Miguel Ferreira and Ben Duff of Jersey Leonis and Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club respectively have pioneered the idea and tomorrow is set to mark new beginnings for boxers from the two neighbouring islands.

"We have been trying to think for a long time at how best to provide opportunities for our local boxers," said Ferreira.

"It is quite tricky for Jersey and Guernsey to get away individually. We have some really talented boxers across the two islands, but they don't get the same chances to compete as often as boxers on the mainland.

"With a Channel Island team, we are able to pool together our best boxers and send an amalgamated group over to fight against clubs in the UK, which works far better logistically than if we were travelling separately.

"If they have got five boxers, for example, at a really high level and we have a similar number, we are able to pool together as one team and share the travel, which helps both of us."

The trip to Liverpool is just the start.

"We have the London team coming to Jersey on 24 February, and we aim to send a Channel Island team over for the reverse leg in May, with six boxers from each island.

"It is a really exciting time in local boxing and we are hopeful that the joint team will continue to provide avenues for our boxers to succeed and grow."

Channel Island Select squad: Emily Logie Inman (Jersey), Liam Duff (Guernsey), Alex Wheatley (Jersey), Coen Le Monnier (Jersey), Joe Patterson (Jersey), Arron Gallichan (Jersey), Emile Prevel (Guernsey), Charlie Corbel (Jersey), Ruslan Gogervaks (Guernsey), Tommy Teers (Guernsey), Fin Walsh (Guernsey), Tyler Quintel (Guernsey), Daniel Dufour (Jersey), Harry Bertram (Jersey).