Birmingham’s Niall Farrell will be looking for a second more medal at the European Championships, albeit in a different heavyweight, when he travels to Armenia as part of team GB for this week’s tournament. Farrell previously brought home a silver medal in 2017 from Kharkiv, Ukraine in flyweight and he will now be looking to add a featherweight medal to his collection.
Farrell believes he is most likely to leave Armenia with a medal on his neck and is certain that the pressure of competing with the best of Europe in the 57kg class will spur him on and prove he is one of the best. The most prominent boxer on the continent.
“I’m a fighter and I hate training, so I’m ready to go to Armenia and do what I’m best at,” Farrell said. “I’ve been in these big tournaments and I’ve won medals at this tournament before, so I know how difficult it is and what it’s going to take.
“There are a few guys who have no experience in Europe but you pick it up quickly once you go out and start working. Lots of countries and best warriors are there, so you don’t get a chance to build it, as all systems go instant. “
“Now that I’ve been promoted to featherweight, I feel great and I know what’s ahead of me. But that’s what I want – to fight the best on the biggest stage and prove I’m one of the best. I raised my bar to who I was fighting for and I felt it came at the right time for me. I will really make this worth it. “
Farrell was lucky enough to be part of the massive team from GB that traveled to Tokyo for the delayed Olympic Games last year. Farrell was able to experience the Olympics, while helping gold medalists like Galal Yafai, Peter McGrail and Luke McCormack prepare for the Olympics.
He has said the experience has only made him hungrier to compete at his own Olympics in 2024 in Paris, however he is well aware of the importance of the other major tournaments in terms of building momentum. force. 2022 is an important year for all GB warriors with the Commonwealth Games also coming.
The Olympics have always been a favorite of GB fighters and that will certainly be the case for Farrell, who has the opportunity to represent his country in his home city. The 24-year-old has been one of the faces of the Olympics, but he refuses to look past Europe’s players this week, which will be underway for him on Wednesday when he faces Nebil Ibrahim’s Switzerland.
“When I was in Tokyo, it was like my own wall flying experience. Being there to support Galal, Peter and Luke and help them prepare was amazing and it really opened my eyes to where I wanted to be. Even though I’m not fighting, my focus has already begun and in 2024 it will be me.
“Seeing all the attention poured into them is mind boggling and that is the culmination of all those years of training. They’ve got everyone around them and that makes me want that too. Every tournament counts and the European tournament is another important step on the road to 2024.
“I did a lot of media for the Commonwealth Games and I loved it. I went into schools and all sorts, but I didn’t ignore the Europeans. The experience you get from fighting around the world with GB is priceless and I can’t wait to get out there.
“Traveling around with other players and fighting in these tournaments is unbelievable. We have such a laugh, but when it’s time to get serious, we do because these competitions are exhausting. I’ve had about 110 fights now and fought in all styles, so I feel like I’m perfectly prepared to go and win another medal in Armenia. ”
By Matt Bevan (@ Matt_Bevan68)
