Evolution continues golden tradition at Emerald Box Cup

The famous Evolution Boxing Club based in West Street, Carrickfergus, enjoyed another outstanding tournament, with 14-year-old Preston Creighton crowned 60kg champion and 16-year-old Benjamin Murray taking the 66kg title after a series of impressive performances against international opposition.

Creighton was particularly impressive across the weekend. The talented youngster produced a dominant display in his Saturday semi-final, forcing a stoppage win against his opponent Lewis Reilly from Claremorris abc to book his place in Sunday's 60kg final.

If the semi-final demonstrated his power and ability to take control of a contest, the final showed another side to his game. Up against a quality opponent Jake Murphy, Creighton displayed his class, boxing education and technical schooling, producing a fantastic dominant final performance on Sunday to secure the victory and be crowned Emerald Box Cup 60kg champion. It was another important statement from a boxer who continues to develop rapidly and has already established himself as one of Evolution's standout young talents.

At 66kg and after time out completing his exams, Benjamin Murray was back in action and also came away with gold, producing the performance required to take control away from the judges delivering a stoppage win in 60 seconds in the first round and claim the championship.

The success was made even more significant by the international nature of the tournament, which featured teams from Palestine, Canada, Spain, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, England, Scotland, Wales, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Evolution travelled with a seven boxer squad comprising of development boxers who claimed bronze in the semi finals Zack Reynolds, Mati Jakobina, Cruz Blair, Chris Cash, and open boxers Derek Kerr Benjamin Murray and Preston Creighton , with head coach Iain Mahood leading the team alongside Arvy Blair.

With a busy schedule of tournaments and championships ahead, The team in Evolution will now turn its attention to the next challenge. For head coach Iain Mahood, the medals are another reward for the hard work being put in at the club, but the experience gained by the entire squad is just as important.

However, with two gold medals heading back to Carrickfergus, there was plenty of reason for celebration. Creighton's stoppage in the semi-final followed by his composed, technically impressive final performance, combined with Murray's championship winning campaign, once again highlights the talent being developed at Evolution Boxing Club.

The club's motto is "From grassroots to greatness", and performances like these show exactly what that pathway can produce.