 Great Britain's team for next month's European Championships in Moscow
Luke Campbell will not compete for England at the European Championships in June after Bournemouth featherweight Iain Weaver was picked ahead of him. Campbell, then a bantamweight, won England's first European gold in 47 years in 2008, but his progress has been stalled by a hand injury. Weaver won last year's ABA title at 57kg and has performed well in various tournaments in Europe this year. Beijing Olympians Bradley Saunders and Khalid Yafai are also in the squad. Scott Cardle, a quarter-finalist at last year's World Championships, also misses out on a trip to Moscow, with Rhondda's Lewis Rees picked at light-welterweight along with Saunders. Romford's Martin Ward, a European gold medalist last year and winner of last week's ABA title at 57kg, was not picked, although he is being given time to grow into the 60kg lightweight division.  | With every kid the question is, do they have Olympic potential? They are not there to make the numbers up Rob McCracken, GB performance director |
"It doesn't matter if you're a reigning champion or number five in the world," said GB performance director Rob McCracken. "You've got to prove yourself because there are others knocking on your door. Moscow is a fantastic opportunity for all these guys but with that opportunity comes pressures. "They have got to look like they are not out of their depth and that they are going to achieve things on the international stage. "With every kid the question is, do they have Olympic potential? They are not there to make the numbers up." While the team is picked by McCracken and his fellow coaches in the guise of the British Amateur Boxing Association (Baba), fighters will compete for their individual countries in Moscow. Two Welshmen - Rees and bantamweight Andrew Selby - will compete alongside and against nine English boxers and one Scot, Edinburgh's Stephen Simmons, at the event that takes place between 4-13 June. Simmons will be making his international debut at light-heavyweight after being persuaded to move down a division by McCracken. "Steve is too small for heavyweight and I think that ought to have been obvious," said McCracken, who was appointed performance director last November. "He wasn't really achieving a lot of success at that weight. But he's a light-heavy now and it's a great opportunity for him." Eighteen-year-old Gamal Yafai, brother of flyweight Khalid, will represent England at bantamweight, with McCracken stating that "he has amazing strength". The squad fly to France next week for six days sparring before heading to Russia.
GB squad for European Championships in Moscow (4-13 June): Tommy Stubbs (England) 48kg Khalid Yafai (England) 51kg Andrew Selby (Wales) 54kg Gamal Yafai (England) 54kg Iain Weaver (England) 57kg Tom Stalker (England) 60kg Bradley Saunders (England) 64kg Lewis Rees (Wales) 64kg Antony Ogogo (England) 75kg Obed Mbwakongo (England) 81kg Stephen Simmons (Scotland) 81kg Warren Baister (England) 91kg
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