Two titles in three days for hard-hitting Akbar
Bradford’s latest teenage boxing sensation, Mohammed Harris Akbar, consolidated his place at the top of his division last weekend, after being named Most Outstanding Boxer at the England Boxing Youth Championships.
The 17-year-old welterweight competitor continues to fight ahead of his years as he overcame the best amateurs the country had to offer to claim victory in the 69kg category.
After a comprehensive point’s victory over Beartown’s Ramtin Mushah in the quarter-finals, a TKO followed in the first round against Sudbury’s Jake Sumner in the semis.
Setting himself up for a showdown with Bradley Goldsmith of Triumph Boxing Club in the final, the Yorkshire fighter once again made light work of his opponent with a unanimous point’s victory.
Speaking after the tournament, he said: “The whole three days went really well for me.
“The first fight was a proper boxing match but the next two I think you can say I gave them a bit of a lesson in boxing to be honest.
“I felt great all weekend and to get my hands on the belt again.”
To cap off an action-packed weekend of competing, Akbar was then awarded the Tony Burns Award for Most Outstanding Boxer after all fighting had concluded.
The inaugural award is named after the Repton Boxing Club coach with a reputation for producing champions at all levels, and will be presented annually.
“To win the Tony Burns award was a special moment,” he said. “We were told before the competition about the award and to perform at our best to be in contention.
“A shortlist was drawn up and when they read my name out it was amazing. It was a shock for me.”
Harris, who represents Bradford Police and College Boxing Academy, is already a Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist and member of the England Boxing Youth squad at 69kg.
