Macdonald heads into ABAs buoyed by Team GB selection

The 18-year-old from Sunderland ABC was already a member of the England Elite boxing team, but has now been selected to represent the Britain team in his 49kg category.

He now joins former Sunderland ABC men Tony Jeffries, Warren Baister and Isaac Macleod in representing Great Britain.

Last year, Kiaran boxed for England in the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa, eventually losing a split decision to eventual gold medallist Steve McKenna of Ireland.

He has already won the Club for Young Persons title, Youth ABA national title and tri-nations title – and for the first time has entered the national Elite senior ABA championships.

In the area finals, Kiaran took on the talented Andrew Winter of Shildon, the English title holder, and won a unanamous decision.

In the North East final, Kiaran took on Great Britain’s multi-national title holder Joe Maphosa from Middlesbrough and produced an outstanding display to win a convincing decision.

Maphosa was set to be seeded at number 2 in the competition in the next round had he came through the contest with Kiaran.

But instead, Macdonald has taken on that seeding and now receives a bye to go straight through to the finals stage next weekend at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

The event is staged from Friday to Sunday, with quarter-finals, semis and then finals day.

Also in the North East finals, Sunderland’s Travis Waters won his semi-final at 69kg against Luke Chapman (East Durham) with an early TKO before losing on a split decision in the final to Birtley starlet Joe Laws.

Sunderland’s Mathew Stewart won his semi-final at 75kg on a TKO in the second round against Joe Hill (Redcar) before losing out to the highly-rated Gaz Dodds of Spennymoor in the final.

Sunderland ABC will take on Repton at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, May 6. Tables are £400 for a table of 10.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Kiaran Macdonald can contact Sunderland ABC coach Dean Hassan on 0780 3159205.