Brum duo on road to Olympics.Byline: IAN JOHNSON Ian Johnson may refer to:
TWO of Birmingham's highlytalented amateurs have taken a massive step towards representing Great Britain Great Britain, officially United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, constitutional monarchy (2005 est. pop. 60,441,000), 94,226 sq mi (244,044 sq km), on the British Isles, off W Europe. The country is often referred to simply as Britain. in the 2012 London Olympics There have been two London Olympics (London hosting the Olympic Games), in 1908 and 1948, with a third scheduled for 2012. The planned 2012 Olympics will make London the first city to have hosted the modern Games of three Olympiads. . Tommy Langford, of the Hall Green club, and Antonio Counihan, from the Eastside outfit, received letters this week saying that they had been selected for the GB Feeder squad. They were invited to two assessment sessions with half a dozen other boxers at their weights. Both went through the first event and were invited back for more vital tests. Longford said: "Receiving that letter was fantastic. I knew that I had to succeed and though I felt confident it was still a big relief. Now I have to force my way on to the Development squad and then the Podium squad. That is going to be tough but I have three years to get there. "I am also pleased because I didn't have the best of nights in the ABA quarter-finals losing to Liam Cameron. I felt that I had over-trained and my performance was flat. "But I learned from it and now my aim this year is to make amends and win the ABA title which would further advance my claims to make progress in the GB squads." The 20-year-old student has also received support from Birmingham University Birmingham University, at Birmingham, England; founded 1900. It has faculties of arts, science, engineering, medicine and dentistry, commerce and social science, law, and education and continuing studies. in his Sports and Exercise Science studies. He said: "They have recognised how busy I am with the boxing and have given me two years to complete my last year of studies." Counihan and Langford were in the England squad who beat Germany in Birmingham last December and have continued to make progress. Counihan was captain of that team and has taken on the same responsibilities for other internationals since. But he, too, had a bad ABA championships The ABA National Championships is the 'Premier' tournament hosted annually by the ABA of England. The Championships are 'open' class. A boxer who is registered with a club of the ABA of England (aged over 17 years by the 1st October) can enter. , losing a fight in the semi-fi-nals he was favourite to win. Jeff Saunders inflicted his only defeat in two years, winning by one point. Counihan admits that he mistakenly went for power instead of style and paid the penalty. But everything is back on track and he is ready to take on the big boys in his first season as a senior. He told me: "I am happy with the progress I am making and to get that letter from the GB was a fantastic buzz. Richie Woodhall Richie Woodhall (born April 17, 1968) is a former English super-middleweight boxer. He lost his last fight to his friend Joe Calzaghe in 2000, and subsequently retired in 2002. had already told me that I had done well but it was great to get it in writing." LATER today the football and boxing might of Birmingham take on the power of Manchester - at St Andrew's (4pm). Avid Bluenoses Frankie Gavin For the British boxer, see . Frankie Gavin (born 1956) is an Irish fiddle and flute player, from Corrandulla, County Galway. He is a founder member of 1970s Irish traditional group De Dannan. and Matthew Macklin Matthew Macklin (born 14 May, 1982 in Birmingham, England) is a professional boxer of Irish extraction, his father being from County Roscommon and his mother from County Tipperary. Macklin usually fights at light middleweight or the divisions either side. are guests of the club along with Manchester City fanatic Ricky Hatton. They will be introduced to the crowd for the City v City clash and I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall. For once I don't fancy Hatton's chances! CAPTION(S): BIG HITTERS: Tom Langford and Antonio Counihan Picture: MARK JONES |
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