Sheffield boxing tradition produces next generation of stars
Dalton Smith's journey towards his WBC world title has much to do with his stellar boxing upbringing as an amateur, representing England and Great Britain and becoming the ABA Schoolboy, British Schoolboy, GB Youth, and Senior ABA champion.
It is a traditional production line that other Sheffield fighters are now keen to follow.
Sheffield City Boxing Club coach Brendan Warburton was proud to see his gym's light-heavyweight Emily Asquith recognised for her achievements at England Boxing's 'Roaring Lions' celebration day at the English Institute of Sport.
Emily, a 23-year-old teaching assistant, was voted 2025 Female Senior Boxer of the Year and also picked up the Boxers' Boxer of the Year award (sponsored by the Royal Marines) in the U23 category.
"It was great to see, the awards were for her efforts in the World Championships where she became the first ever boxer from England Boxing's performance team to medal in the worlds with her silver" said Brendan.
"It was a just reward for her medal and the brilliant year she has had.
"Emily hoped to go to the Commonwealth Games this year, but her weight isn’t included in the competition.
"So she will now concentrate on winning the elite title again in April and weigh up her options after that."
At the same event, De Hood Boxing Centre prospect Emmanuel Kargbo, 18, was named best Under 19 male boxer.
Coach Reagan Denton said he was "over the moon" for the Notre Dame High School student saying he was "talk of the town."
The 90kg fighter from Westfield picked up an award for his gold medal in the U19 European championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic in only his 11th bout.
Late last year, he stopped his opponent in the Global Glove Box Cup final in just 17 seconds of the first round.
Warburton commented: "It’s certainly is good grounding for them on the England performance, plenty of opportunity for competition and experience."
The EIS audience was addressed by Natasha Jonas, a two-weight world champion who held the unified WBC, and WBO light-middleweight titles between 2022 and 2025.
*South Yorkshire has developed plenty of boxers who stormed through the amateur game to achieve great things.
They include:
Naseem Hamed – Sheffield: was the Junior A weight category champion at the 1987 ABA (National Schools) Championships representing Sheffield.
Liam Cameron - Sheffield: won the 2009 ABA Welterweight Championship representing Steel City ABC before turning professional. It made him Sheffield's first ABA welterweight champion since Henry Hall in 1944.
Dalton Smith - Sheffield captured the 2018 ABA Light‑Welterweight Championship as an amateur before progressing to international youth honours and a world professional title.
Bruce Woodcock - Doncaster: won the 1939 ABA Light‑Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Albert Hall.
Kell Brook - Sheffield: acclaimed amateur who won two ABA titles at Junior/Youth levels before a celebrated professional career.
Conner Kelsall - Doncaster/Conisbrough: crowned a 2019 England Boxing National Amateur flyweight champion at the National Amateur Championships.