Driven by gold medal performances from Chantelle Reid and Damar Thomas, the 2026 Strandja Memorial Tournament, held in Sofia from 23 February to 1 March, once again underlined its reputation as a true yardstick of elite amateur boxing. In a stacked, unforgiving competition — particularly against the ever-formidable Kazakh and Uzbek delegations, heirs to the storied Soviet boxing tradition — the British team returned home with six medals to show for their efforts.
In the blue-riband +90kg division, Damar Thomas delivered a statement performance. Still only 21, the London-born southpaw, standing 6ft 6in (1.98m) and developed at Powerday Hooks ABC, continues to justify the considerable expectations that have followed him since his youth successes — European U18 champion and World Youth silver medallist in 2022. After falling at the quarter-final stage of the 2025 World Championships, Thomas arrived in Sofia knowing this tournament could represent a breakthrough moment at senior level and he seized it emphatically.
His opening bout against Armenia’s Makhonov Arman set the tone: a commanding 5–0 unanimous decision, controlled from start to finish. Even more eye-catching was his demolition of Brazil’s Silva, stopped by the referee (RSC) in the opening round at 1:47. Thomas dictated range with his long jab, imposed his physicality and, as a left-hander, created awkward angles that his opponent simply could not solve.
The semi-final against Germany’s Nikita Putilov proved his sternest examination. It was a rugged, hard-fought contest, fought at a high tempo with heavy exchanges in the pocket. Thomas prevailed 4–1 on the judges’ cards in what stood as his toughest outing of the week. In the final, he faced Uzbekistan’s O. Aliev and delivered arguably his most composed display, securing a 5–0 victory. More clinical and less rushed than the previous day, he controlled proceedings with maturity beyond his years to cap a thoroughly accomplished campaign.
In the women’s competition, Chantelle Reid once again demonstrated why she remains one of the cornerstones of the British set-up. A World Championship medallist in 2025 and an Olympian in Paris, the 27-year-old has enjoyed one of British boxing’s most compelling comeback stories, having returned to the sport after six years out through injury. In Sofia, she was immediately tested.
Her opening bout against Igharo Evelyn proved awkward and finely balanced, Reid edging a 3–2 split decision — the only contest of her week not won unanimously. It was a potential banana skin, tight and tactical, but it sharpened her focus. From that point on, she raised her level considerably.
A composed 5–0 win over Kazakhstan’s Madina Nurshayeva followed, before she dispatched Australia’s Lekeisha Pergoliti — the 2025 world silver medallist — by the same margin. In the final, Reid overcame Brazil’s Viviane Pereira with authority, again sweeping the cards 5–0. After that tricky opener, she increased the technical intensity, boxed off the back foot when required, and asserted her ring IQ. This gold medal firmly establishes her among the leading names at 70kg worldwide; she currently sits fourth in the global rankings and is performing like a genuine contender for major honours in the coming cycle.
Behind the two gold medallists, a cluster of podium finishes added real depth to Britain’s overall tally.
Will Hewitt (60kg) produced a polished run before encountering a superior opponent in the last four. He began with three emphatic 5–0 victories, defeating Giorgi Kapanadze, Turkey’s Selahattin Cinibulak, and — most notably — compatriot Owain Harris-Allan, a 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist. In the semi-finals, however, Hewitt ran into Bulgaria’s Radoslav Rosenov, a European and World medallist and ultimately the tournament champion. Hewitt was beaten 5–0, but against one of the division’s most accomplished operators. He departs with bronze and invaluable experience at the highest tier of amateur competition.
Patris Mughalzai (65kg) claimed the same colour medal, though his route was rather different. He edged a tight 3–2 verdict over Azerbaijan’s Magsud Khasmetov before finding his rhythm with dominant 5–0 victories against Armenia’s Artur Sahakyan and Georgia’s Levan Demurovi. Unfortunately, an injury forced him to withdraw ahead of his semi-final against Ukraine’s E. Aliiev, who went on to win the title. Mughalzai leaves Sofia frustrated at not being able to box for a place in the final, yet his performances across three bouts confirmed clear progress.
Sacha Hickey, the 2024 European U23 champion, also secured bronze in a fiercely competitive field. She made a statement from the outset, defeating Turkey’s Sema Çalışkan — a double World Championship medallist — by unanimous decision. Another 5–0 success followed against Belgium’s Oshin Derieuw, a European Games silver medallist and Olympian. Hickey’s run ended in the semi-finals against Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova, the 2025 world silver medallist and one of the division’s dominant forces, who subsequently claimed gold with a 5–0 victory in the final. Hickey’s campaign nonetheless confirmed that she can compete with the very best at world level.
Lauren Mackie (54kg) came within touching distance of gold. After outclassing Algeria’s Douaa Rouaz 5–0, she edged two split decisions (3–2), including an impressive win over the United States’ Yoseline Perez, the reigning world silver medallist. In the final, however, Kazakhstan’s Elina Bazarova proved a step too far, taking a 5–0 decision. Silver, though, represents a significant return given the calibre of opposition she overcame en route.
Finally, there was disappointment for Teagn Stott. The 2025 world silver medallist from Sheffield was stopped in his opening contest by Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev (RSC, Round 2, 2:50), who went on to lift the title. By Stott’s own assessment, it had been a competitive bout until a perfectly timed Uzbek shot in the second round changed everything. At 90kg, a single clean connection can be decisive, and this one brought the contest to a premature end. A harsh exit, certainly, but contextualised by the quality of the eventual champion.
