Isaac Okoh fulfilled a lifelong dream as he made it a hat-trick of gold medals in the space of just a couple of hours for Team England’s boxers in Glasgow.
Okoh got the better of Wales’s Connor Williams to take gold in the men’s 90kg category, following in the footsteps of Sacha Hickey and Patris Mughalzai in the women’s and men’s 65kg categories respectively.
The 23-year-old Okoh won a unanimous decision on points against his Welsh opponent, reflecting on a surreal experience before looking ahead to an Olympic bid in two years’ time.
He said: “I feel like I'm one of the top fighters at my weight right now in the world. Coming into this tournament, I had an expectation of myself and I feel like a lot of other people expected me to come away with gold. I did have a bit of pressure, but we stuck to the gameplan, kept our head on, not let the pressure get to us, and put in the performances and came away with the gold.
“When you start boxing as a kid, the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics are two massive tournaments. To be here is surreal and to win a gold medal here is even better. It's a lifelong dream fulfilled and it's just amazing.
“I've got two eyes on the Olympics, that's the ultimate goal. I don't want to look too far ahead because I've got big competitions coming up in about six or seven weeks, so we'll stick to the plan. We take one competition at a time, one fight at the time, and in two years’ time I want to be at LA winning a gold medal there.”
Hickey had got the ball rolling for Team England’s fighters at the SEC as she overcame Kaci Rock of Northern Ireland to take gold.
And she was keen to show her gratitude to her family for their support along the way, with her brother Aaron having played an important role in her development.
She said: “It means everything to me. To be here and win a gold medal for my country and my family is just unbelievable.”
In between Hickey and Okoh, Mughalzai showed some style on his way to gold, winning on points against Australia’s Jacob Cassar.
And having put on a show in the ring, he admitted that the emotions were high when receiving his medal.
He said: “I enjoyed every moment of it. I enjoyed the cameras, the lights - when the lights are on me, I feel like that's when I'm in full flow and I get my rhythm. I've enjoyed Glasgow a lot. Great people and great fights.
“I was almost going to cry on that podium, but it's a great feeling. I said I was going to get in there and do a bit of showboating, I did that, I had fun and I got the gold medal. To do it in front of my friends, family and people who have supported me, it's a great feeling.”
After the gold rush in the morning, the evening’s session began with flashes of silver as Ruby White and Chantelle Reid were both beaten by Indian opposition in the final.
White lost to Sakshi Chaudhary in the women’s 51kg before Reid was beaten by Arundhati Choudhary in the women’s 70kg.
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