Ambitious Mackie targeting Commonwealth and European medals after World Boxing Cup bronze
Desborough boxer Lauren Mackie is targeting a medal for England at the Commonwealth Games later this year after she claimed an impressive bronze at the first World Boxing Cup event of 2026 in Brazil.
Mackie was part a nine-strong Great Britain team to travel to Foz do Iguacu, and one of only two to win a medal, with the other being Londoner Sacha Hickey who also won bronze.
Nearly 400 boxers from 50 countries competed at the event, with the action covering 10 weight classes for both men and women.
Competing in the bantamweight division (W54kg), Mackie enjoyed unanimous victories in her first two bouts against Venelina Poptoleva of Bulgaria and Canada’s Scarlett Delgado.
She then came up against Yunman Gan of China in the semi-final, and was edged out 4-1 on a split decision.
Gan went on to win the gold medal, beating Serbia's Sara Cirkovic in the final.
It has been a good start to 2026 for Burton Park ABC fighter Mackie, who also won a silver medal at at the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia in February.
“The World Boxing Cup competitions are getting bigger and better all the time and are now the biggest events after world and European championships," said Mackie. "So to do well at them is a really good sign.
“I was at this event last year when there were seven boxers at my weight, but this time there was 20, so the competition is a lot tougher and that is what helps you to improve.
“I came here off the back of a medal at the Strandja and my preparation was good, and the coaches were really happy with how I boxed in Brazil.
"They felt I was a little unlucky not to get the nod in the semi-final, but she was a good opponent and went on to win the gold.
"The girl she beat in the final is an Olympian and a really good boxer, so it just shows you how high the standard is at these tournaments.”
Mackie can expect to rise into the top 10 of the world bantamweight rankings after her performance, and she will be aiming to back up her medal-winning show at the next World Boxing Cup in China next month.
Then, looking further afield, Mackie says her main targets are representing England at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July and August, and then competing for GB at the European Championships in Sofia in September.
Mackie is competing with GB squad mates, Ivy Jane Smith, and two-time Olympian, Charley Davison, for selection and said: “I feel like I am making good progress right now and my big hope is to go to the Commonwealths and the European championships and win a medal.
“Being part of the GB Boxing squad, you are around the best boxers, so while you are competing with the other girls for selection for tournaments, the quality of the sparring is good, so you really learn from it and are developing all the time.
“This latest tournament has given me another boost.
"I used to go to these events and look at the draw and think about who I wanted to avoid, but now I think I am becoming one of those people that the other boxers don’t want to get drawn against, so things are going well.”