By Christian Lee
A Bramley schoolgirl has made history in becoming a three-time national boxing champion.
Neveah Brierley – who WLD profiled previously in November – won the under 44 kg female category of the England Boxing National Schools Championships on Sunday 14 May. This follows previous victories in 2021 and 2022.
Nevaeh, 13, beat Georgia Wood from Bilingham in the semi final and Grace Musgrave from Hull in the final, both by split decision.
Reacting to the win, Nevaeh’s mum, Shelly Brierley, said: “I couldn’t be anymore proud of her and she’s chuffed to bits. She went for the gold and came back with the golden gloves.”
Nevaeh had to overcome a number of obstacles on her way to victory, including fighting through a power cut on the final day which meant that her friends and family couldn’t watch from home.
Shelly added: “You couldn’t write it. They live streamed [the event] and all her friends and family were all sat there Sunday and then there was a power cut and they couldn’t watch it so were waiting for me to tell them the result.”
Since victory at the England schools championships, Nevaeh has also gone on to win the Angel of the North Box Cup in Newcastle.
Her success has led to her being selected for the England Boxing performance pathway, which will see her fight internationally for her country, and her mum has revealed that her dream is to follow in the footsteps of trailblazers like Katie Taylor and Nicola Adams by competing at the Olympics and then professionally.