Western Counties
Five boxers represented Roman Boxing Gym in the 2024 Western Counties Development Championships, showcasing the depth of talent in Bath. Ronny, Harvey, Daisy, Max and Ryan all entered, while a sixth contender, Terence, was unfortunately sidelined due to an ankle injury sustained just a week prior to the competition.
The journey began with the regional box-offs in Frome, where Ronny Scott faced Sam Jones from Sydenham. In a closely contested match, Ronny narrowly missed advancing, losing on a 3-2 split decision. The following day, in his first ever entry to the development championships, Harvey met Inoke Dobui from Yeovil at Broad Plain. Despite a fantastic effort, Harvey did not progress, with his opponent subsequently going on to the Western Counties final. It was a good bout for Harvey and good experience for him.
Max and Ryan both competed in the regional finals in Cheltenham. Max delivered a stellar performance against Torbay’s Joseph Murray, clinching the Western Counties title with a decisive third-round stoppage. Ryan mirrored this success, securing his championship by defeating Roy Pritchard from Sturminster Newton with a first-round knockout. Meanwhile, due to a lack of competitors in her category, Daisy was automatically awarded Western Counties champion, reflecting both her dedication and readiness to compete, and the challenges female boxers often face in finding matches.
With the regional phase concluded, the focus now shifted to the national stage, where the champions represented both Roman Boxing Gym and the Western Counties.
National Championships
Max was first in action, meeting the Home Counties champion in the pre-quarter finals. Under the guidance of coach Craig, he boxed well, securing a unanimous points victory. Ryan, meanwhile, received a bye and advanced automatically to the quarter-finals.
The following week, Max and Ryan travelled to Essex for the quarter final stage. Max boxed well but lost on a 4-1 split decision, later discovering he had broken his hand in his previous bout which impacted his performance. His opponent, March Amateur Boxing’s Danny Webb, made it all the way to the final, where Roman coaches heard from others in attendance “You’ve got a good kid down in your gym”, showing how much of an impression Max had left.
Max’s time with Roman Boxing Gym stretches back to before the COVID-19 pandemic. He first visited the club at its old location in Bath Sports Centre, but it didn’t quite click. “I had to tell him, you do as you’re told or you’re out,” his coach recalls. “And he didn’t grasp that, being a youngster.”
When training resumed post-pandemic at the Bath City football ground, Max returned, this time ready to fully commit. He quickly made an impression, responding to the structured environment and growing into a disciplined, dedicated athlete. With 19 bouts now under his belt and 14 wins – all five losses coming against champions – his progress has been remarkable. Coming from a family with a background in kickboxing, he dabbled in Muay Thai as a child, but it was at Roman that he truly found his sport. His performances prove that he is on the right track.
Back to the quarter-finals where Ryan stepped up facing a strong opponent from Northampton, Favour Adedeji. He boxed well, earning a 4-1 split decision win and his place in the semi-finals. Joining him at the next stage was Daisy, who once again advanced due to a lack of opponents in her category. The next step was Kettering for the weekend of semi-finals and finals.
Semi-final day saw 168 bouts spread across four rings, an incredible experience for all involved. Daisy was up first, taking on the Southern Counties champion, a boxer named Kelsey Morrey from Holmes Chapel. It didn’t take long for her to stamp her authority on the contest, securing a first-round stoppage victory and her place in the final. Ryan followed, facing Reuben Kotley from Aldercar and Langley Mill boxing club. He delivered a solid performance, dominating all three rounds to win a unanimous 5-0 decision. Two Roman boxers were through to the finals.
The next day had 83 finals on the card across all categories. Daisy, now with a wealth of experience of national championship finals and in search of her first title, was up against Paulsgrove’s Tilly-May Rogers. She delivered, winning by second-round stoppage to become Youth Female Under 70kg National Champion. It was a landmark moment – her only three losses to date had all come in previous finals, where she had faced more experienced boxers including a European Championships competitor. This time, she was more determined than ever, and this shone through in her performance.
Daisy also started in boxing when Roman Boxing Gym was based at Bath Sports Centre. She had no previous experience, coming from a gymnastics background, but discovered the club when she and two friends saw a poster while on their way to play netball. They turned up the next night, and Daisy never looked back. From complete novice to four-time national finalist and now a champion, her progression is a testament to her dedication, attitude and talent.
Ryan’s final was a close, hard-fought contest. Facing Brinkly Lee from highly respected Yorkshire club Legions, he had a tough task. His opponent had 14 bouts to Ryan’s seven by the time they reached the final. The occasion got to Ryan in the opening round, but by the third, he was in full flow. The decision was a narrow 3-2 split in favour of the Yorkshire boxer, but Ryan had proven he belonged at this level.
Ryan’s story is another that highlights the transformative power of commitment. He had one white-collar bout before joining Roman Boxing Gym. Then after just one contest with the club, he was encouraged to enter the Development Championships as a learning experience – but instead, he went all the way to the final. “I told him, put the work in and you’ll get out. Don’t put the work in, you won’t,” his coach said. Ryan listened, applied himself, and in just 14 months at the gym, reached a national final. We will surely hear more about him in future. At Roman Boxing Gym, we are incredibly proud of all our members and their dedication, whether they are stepping into the ring at national championships or training for personal growth. Our goal is to support every individual in reaching their full potential, whether that means getting fit, making friends, learning something new, competing, or even aiming for England and Team GB. Everyone is welcome and no previous boxing experience is needed, we are here to guide you on your journey, whatever your aspirations may be.