#GreenandGold boxers excel at 2026 BUCS Championships

The 2026 BUCS boxing championships, held from 23rd-25th January, saw both new and returning Nottingham athletes deliver outstanding performances in the ring, showcasing the depth of talent and determination within the club.

Competing in men's 62.5kg category, Athieren Kukendren returned to BUCS to claim a gold medal for the second consecutive year. After winning the semi-finals by unanimous decision and battling through injury in the final, Athieren demonstrated exceptional resilience, securing victory by stoppage in round two and cementing his dominance at BUCS.

Novice athlete, Niall Burtoft, competing in the Men's 80kg category, entered the competition with only one bout of experience and left a champion. After securing two stoppage victories in earlier rounds, he delivered an impressive performance in the final, earning a unanimous decision and contributing significantly to the university's success. Further highlighting the team's strength, Jayden Johnson shocked the crowd by winning the men's 70kg category with a stoppage victory just 30 seconds into the first round.

In the women's 60kg category, Hana Bye produced an exceptional performance, defeating last year's champion and securing a stoppage victory in the finals. Novice boxer Saad Faisal also impressed in the men's 65kg category for athletes with 0-5 bouts of experience, showing determination and strong potential throughout the competition. Angel Lorenzano, making her debut in the women's 51kg category, made coaches proud with her enthusiasm, willingness to learn and resilience, embodying the spirit of the team.

University of Nottingham Sport congratulates everyone involved in the success over the Championships and commends all athletes for their determination, resilience and commitment throughout resulting in an outstanding set of performances and multiple victories.

To find out more about the championships please visit the BUCS website here.

To keep up to date with the University of Boxing club, you can see their social media here.

Notes for editors

University of Nottingham are the top UK University for team sport, placing 2nd in the overall British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings in the 2024/25 season. For more information on our performance sport offer, including scholarships and support for student athletes, please click here.