Team GB supermum Davison wins first Tokyo 2020 boxing qualifier in front of empty crowd as coronavirus sees fans banned
TEAM GB supermum Charley-Sian Davison managed to cope with the crowd ban to win her opening Tokyo 2020 qualifier at the Copper Box.
The southpaw flyweight dominated Irish rival Carly McNaul without any fans to cheer her on, after safety measures were taken to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Davison scored two standing-eight counts in the final round to ensure a brilliantly convincing win, with the only shame being her supporters could not witness it.
But the mother-of-three had a full house back home, she said: “My dad, my kids and my coaches were all watching.
“I think I had around 20 people back home all huddled in my living room watching me on the big screen.
“My eldest was going to get a day off school and come down and watch me but he’ll be watching at home, too.”
All five ringside judges gave Davison the opening session 10-8 so McNaul threw the kitchen sink at her in the second.
I think I boxed well considering I haven’t done it in a while competitively
Charley-Sian Davison
But 26-year-old Davison kept her cool, after a long lay-off, to earn a unanimous decision and take a giant leap toward the Summer Games.
The Lowestoft ace spent took seven years out of the ring, raising her family after a classy youth junior career, and only got in the Team GB squad in January.
But she blew away the cobwebs in sensation fashion and will be a threat to any female under 54kgs.
She said: “It was nice to shake off the ring rust and get the first one out of the way. Onto the second one now.
“I think I boxed well considering I haven’t done it in a while competitively.
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"I have only had spars in training but that’s totally different from doing it for real, especially at an Olympic qualifier.
“I felt I could have been sharper, but I think the nerves were there a little bit.
"But the first one is always shaky and now it’s out the way I can perform better next time.”
