A total of 24 boxers have progressed to the quarter-finals, putting them within one victory of securing at least a bronze medal at Glasgow 2026.
Amongst them was India’s Preeti Preeti, winner of the 2026 Asian Elite Championship in April. She faced Malawi’s Deborah Mtenje in the Women’s 54kg tournament, beating her by referee’s stoppage in the second round.
Standing between Preeti and a podium spot is Northern Ireland’s Nicole Clyde. While acknowledging the quality of the Irish contingent, the Indian fighter remained confident in her ability to make it all the way to the final.
“There are many good boxers in this competition, but I’m also good,” said Preeti.
“It’s really an honour for me to represent my country here. It is a really big stage and this is my first Commonwealth Games, so I’m very well prepared and I’ll give my best.”
The morning session saw other serious contenders make it through to the final eight.
One of them was England’s Lauren Mackie, the only boxer in the category to have fought twice already. Following a strong last round, she was able to overturn Australia’s Monique Suraci by a 3-2 split-decision margin.
Her next opponent will be Wales’ Helen Jones, who defeated Nigeria’s Kadijat Ajishola by the same verdict.
A fiery clash saw Australia’s Jye Dixon overcome Mathealira Seholoholo, of Lesotho, in the Men’s 55kg category.
Seholoholo had put all the remaining boxers on notice after knocking out the highly rated Northern Irishman Louis Rooney in the previous round, but Dixon was defiant from the opening bell, as the pair put on a show over the next 15 minutes.
Although it seemed as if caution had been thrown to the wind, the bleach-blond Australian said his energetic start was relatively subdued.
“I tend to be aggressive sometimes, so I was just trying to keep my cool and box smart,” said Dixon.
His next opponent will be Md Rakib Hossain, of Bangladesh, who won by unanimous decision over Bid Michael Inoino (PNG). A moment of sportsmanship saw both boxers bow to the four corners of the venue in tandem.
If Hossain beats Dixon, he will become the first Bangladeshi boxer to win a Commonwealth Games medal.
Despite his bout with Namibia’s Philip Pumulo Mutakela Haoseb ending in defeat, Charif Yaya wrote himself a place in Togo’s sporting history as he became the first athlete from the African nation to compete at the Commonwealth Games.
The gloves were figuratively off in the third round of the Men’s 65kg bout as Uganda’s Nuhu Batte and Aditya Pratap Yadav, of India, delivered the contest of the day.
Coming from behind after losing the first round, the Ugandan rallied to get the better of a split-decision verdict.
Monday (27 July) is the second day of the Round of 16, before the quarter-finals begin on Tuesday (28 July).
GNS mh/tb
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