Homepage

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
Popular content on our site
Prepare to “Find Your Greatness” as search for UK's future athletes gets underway The National Lottery operator Allwyn launches ChangeMakers fund for athletes as they make a difference back home Breadth of success targeted as British Olympic and Paralympic performance aspirations confirmed for Paris Investing in sport Strategic plan 2021-31
News

British Lionhearts raring to go

Published 14 January 2015

With the return of the British Lionhearts to this year’s World Series of Boxing (WSB), the all-star roster will be raring to go against the China Dragons on Thursday 15 January 2015 at York Hall in London. Seen as a bridge between the amateur and professional world, this time around the competition will also provide a route for boxers to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.

We spoke to super heavyweight Commonwealth champion Joe Joyce and rising bantamweight star Qais Ashfaq about their Glasgow 2014 experience and the year ahead.

How did you find the experience of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Glasgow?

[QA] It was an amazing experience, for me, the CWG were all about experience as I’m not the most experienced member of the team so just getting that is bringing me on leaps and bounds and has does wonders for my confidence. The more experience I get, the better I’m getting.

[JJ] It was unbelievable, even the warm up bouts were jam packed and the crowd were great. Then we moved to the Hydro and wow! There were so many people, it was a great experience for me and is easily the biggest thing I’ve been a part of.

What experiences and lessons will you take from Glasgow into this year’s WSB?

[QA] As a school boy and a junior I’ve travelled all around the world boxing, but it’s those big fights that I don’t have the experience of, so getting that top level experience like I did in the CWG is doing lots for my confidence and making me a better fighter overall. As I’m getting older I’m getting stronger and my style is changing. Getting to the finals of the CWG against the highest ranked boxer – and nearly beating him - in the tournament has done wonders for me, getting that close was what I needed. I’m confident in my ability and that knowledge will help me push on this year.

[JJ] The WSB is based on a longer format, so you have more time in the ring, this meant I had more time to develop my ringcraft, footwork and abilities under longer periods of pressure in the ring. But winning that gold at the CWG, in front of such a big crowd, helped to show me a different level of pressure and how to channel it positively.

Will the crowds play a bit part in this year’s WSB?

[QA] In all honesty the crowd, good or bad, never really affects me that much. I’m one of those people that, once I’m in the ring, get tunnel vision and it’s just me and my opponent.

[JJ] I’m a bit of a WSB veteran now having competed in 2013 for the British Lionhearts and 2014 for the Italian Thunder, so I’m used that crowd and you get used to that feeling. I just concentrate on getting in that ring, doing my job and beating my opponent. The crowds encouragement helps though, they push you on to do better.

What are your goals for this year?

[QA] Simply put, I want to win more medals, hopefully gold. I’m looking to achieve one better all the time in every competition I’m in. This year my aim is to qualify for the Olympics in Rio 2016, I’ve been training hard and I’m looking forward to getting this year underway.

[JJ] Realistically I’m looking to get that confirmation that I’ll be getting my ticket and going to Rio 2016!

Do you think GB Boxing is in a good place with one year to go to Rio 2016?

[QA] Yes, definitely as a team, we’ve got some great lads coming through and we work hard and have great ambition. I’m so happy to be a part of this team, I just want to use the experience, win my fights, get a world ranking and then compete in the Olympics for a gold medal.

[JJ] Of course, we’ve got a great stable of boxers at the moment. We’ll all be wanting to do well [in WSB] as it’s about qualification for Rio 2016 and we’ve all got the opportunity to achieve that. Everybody here wants to do well at Rio 2016.

Finally, which boxer should fans look out for this year?

[QA] I’m going to say Anthony Fowler as I’m currently staring straight into his eyes! I’m looking right at him so yes, definitely going to say Anthony Fowler!

[JJ] Me! Haha!

Share
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

News

Participants of the UK Sport Athlete To Coach programme taking part in a fireside conversation
UK Sport launches new programmes to support coaching across the high-performance community
21 May 2025
Headshot of Professor Nick Webborn CBE
Professor Nick Webborn CBE appointed new Chair of UK Sport
19 May 2025
Decoration image with the logos of UK Sport and Weirdo
Transforming fan experience: UK Sport introduces new engagement strategies for Olympic and Paralympic sports
15 May 2025
Looking to work in sport?
Find or advertise sports jobs in the UK
Search now
Our funders
  • Funded by UK Government
  • TNL partners
Who we work with
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • Logo of the UK Sports Institute
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
  • Logo of the British Elite Athletes Association
  • Logo for UK Coaching
  • Logo of Sport Resolutions
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • Website terms and privacy policy
  • Editorial policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of Information
  • Welsh language scheme
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2025