Sports student picks up fifth national boxing title

Raza Hamza Class 'C' British Champion

Hopwood Hall College student Raza Hamza won his fifth national boxing title at the weekend.

Raza studies sport at the College and is in Hopwood Hall’s Boxing Academy.

The College has produced rising young boxing stars such as Thomas Stubbs, Nicola Adams and Raza who, between them, have been selected for the Commonwealth Games and won a vast array of titles both nationally and overseas.

Raza took the British Title by two excellent performances over a three week period.

In the Semi Final held in Wakefield, Raza boxed Adam James from the Rotunda Gym in Liverpool. After the first round of a slow start both boxers tested each others skills and ended the round 0-0. In the second and third round; Raza upped his tempo and began to score freely finishing the third round two points ahead. In the fourth and final round Raze again applied pressure and forced Adam to the canvas with a devastating left hook to the body.

Raza was awarded the contest by a score of six points to two taking him forward to the British final in Wales.

In the final Raza met Ben Baker, a top class Welsh Senior International who was fancied to take the 51Kg Class ‘C’ British Championship.

In the first round Baker applied lots of pressure, unloading some thunderous shots to the head and body of the Hopwood boxer. Raza soaked up all the pressure using some excellent defence and countered with some clever shots to the head of Baker.

In the second and third rounds, Raza began to take control, imposing himself on his opponent. The fitness level and skills of the silky Raza began to test the fitness levels of Baker. Raza then boxed at long range and scored freely to take the British title by a final score of 15 points to 9.

A spokesperson for the college said: “This is a remarkable achievement for Raza; no boxer from the academy has ever won five national titles during their time at Hopwood Hall.”