Charley Davison: Team GB boxer hoping for Paris Olympics success

Charley Davison (right) beat Rabab Cheddar at the Tokyo Olympics before losing to Yuan Chang

Boxer Charley Davison is hopeful that a change of weight division and a "close to home" Olympics can bring her success in Paris this summer.

The 30-year-old will represent Team GB as a bantamweight, after losing her second bout at the Tokyo Games three years ago when fighting at flyweight.

After that, she is contemplating the prospect of turning professional.

"This is definitely my last shot at an Olympics. I'm going to give it my all," Davison told BBC Look East.

"I went to Tokyo and came home earlier than I wanted to. It's a new weight for this Olympics, so it's a different journey for me. I believe I can be on that podium this time."

Davison, from Suffolk, began boxing at the age of eight and fought her way to several youth titles before stepping away from the sport in 2012 for seven years, during which time she had three children.

She returned to the gym in 2019 for the main purpose of getting fit, but was soon "bitten by the boxing bug" again and won a national ABA title in Manchester by outpointing Nina Hughes.

That Hughes went on to become world bantamweight champion at the age of 40 in November 2022 in only her fifth pro contest is perhaps one reason why Davison has been content not to rush her own entry into the increasingly lucrative pro ranks and instead concentrate on pursuing her Olympic dream.

'Always been a grafter'

She is the second fighter from the Triple A club in Lowestoft to appear at an Olympics, following Anthony Ogogo, who won a middleweight bronze medal at London 2012.

"It's an unheard of thing for a club so small, out in the sticks," said trainer John Cremin.

"It's Charley's second time, which is a massive achievement. She's always been a grafter. Every time you come to the gym, you've got to give it 120%."

Cremin hopes that her recent successes - winning two tournaments in Finland and one in Germany in 2023, and reaching the semi-finals at the European Games in Poland - will be enough to see her seeded for the Olympics which should, in theory, mean a slightly easier path through the draw.

"It's a tough sport and you've really got to work hard to get to the level [she's at]. She's had a good bit of time on the [GB] squad now, whereas she was fast-tracked for Tokyo," he added.

Davison also benefits from the advice of Rob McCracken, performance director of Britain's boxing squad.

"After I qualified [for Paris], we had two more tournaments. He just said 'go there, gain experience, this is still a new weight for you. You've got great talent, use what you're good at', and that's what I did," she said.

"I boxed six times in the two different tournaments and really enjoyed myself. I feel really strong at this weight."

Support from home in Paris

Charley Davison qualified for the Paris Olympics by winning a European Games bronze medal in June last year

Davison admits that being away from her children can be a wrench, but when in training she is "fully focused" on business in the ring.

She will, though, have plenty of support from home when she goes for a medal in the French capital in July and August.

"Tokyo went so fast. I won the first fight, lost the second [to China's Yuan Chang], it went like a flash," she said.

"Definitely in Paris, I'm going to soak it all up. My family will be there watching me and I'll have other supporters from my local club. It's going to feel like home because Paris is quite close compared to Tokyo.

"When you hear people from home shouting and screaming your name, it's going to drive you, push you on. No matter whether you're down in a fight or ahead, you're going to be buzzing.

"I've never had that [before]. I've boxed at home for my local club a few times but obviously, going abroad, you don't have your family there."

'Boxing's like an addiction'

Davison has sparred with former undisputed world light-welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron back in the latter's amateur days, so what about her own professional aspirations?

So far, she is keeping her gloves up and offering a tight defence in answer to that question, but certainly has no intention of walking away from the sport post-Paris.

"It's like an addiction. I've done it since eight years old and now I'm 30. For me to shut that door and be finished with it, I don't think that can happen," she said.

"There's been talks about it [turning pro]. It just depends on what I achieve at this Olympics, but all being well, I think I will look to, yes.

"Women's pro boxing is booming and more so after this Olympics I think there'll be a lot more more girls turning pro. It will be good to be involved in that mix.

"I know a lot of the girls, Chantelle Cameron, Katie Taylor, Nicola Adams - Nicola and Chantelle were on the GB squad - Savannah Marshall, but I'll just focus now on the amateurs.

"I've got a big thing to do in Paris and after that we'll see what happens."

Charley Davison was talking to BBC Look East's Jonathan Park.