Carlisle champion Ike Ogbo has been assessed by some of the country’s top coaches as he aims to further his ambitions on the national boxing scene.
The superheavyweight from Border City Amateur Boxing Club has been to three training camps with Great Britain Boxing.
It follows his success in the recent England Amateur Championships.
Ogbo, who is also an accident and emergency doctor at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, has impressed in his GB sessions so far, according to Border City ABC coach Dean Jopson.
“He’s been to the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, where the GB boxers train,” Jopson said.
“The first session was a big weekend with some of the national champions. Some of them got asked to go back, and Ike was one of them.
“After the second session, some get asked to go back again and Ike was successful in that as well.
“His third session was with the GB team and the GB coaches in a smaller group, and has involved meeting the main coaches like Richie Woodhall and Rob McCracken.
“He should get his results from his assessment in the next week or so. I don’t want to tempt fate but Ike is really positive about it.
“He’s really surprised at how far he’s got, I think.”
Ogbo, 28, starred in December when he beat Sussex-based Harvey Dykes to claim the England amateur super-heavyweight crown – claiming a belt previously won by the likes of Anthony Joshua, Audley Harrison, Derek Chisora and Joe Joyce.
He has spoken of his ambition to represent Team GB in international competitions.
Jopson added: “They paid for all his accommodation, his transport, put him up in the GB hotel, and it’s been three sessions a day of training – really intense.
“The boxers have also been on the track having their fitness assessed.
“It’s the full package he’s been getting. He’s really moving forward.
“If he’s successful, there are different squads within the GB set-up.
“There’s the podium squad which goes onto the Olympics and events like that, and also a pathway squad, as they’re always developing people to come through into the higher squads.
“He would possibly be representing England at some multi-nation events, against Scotland and Ireland, and then it comes down to what your results are like and how you’re performing.”
The England Amateur national championships are also on the horizon next month, and Jopson said Ogbo’s progress is excellent for Border City ABC and for Carlisle.
“It’s great success for the whole city,” he added.
“Boxing’s always been strong in Carlisle, but all the Carlisle clubs are really busy at the moment.”
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