Middleweight Callum Makin has established himself as a medal-winning force for the GB boxing team, but his path to the Olympic Games hinges on a crucial weight category decision. According to Sky Sports, the 22-year-old Liverpool fighter is preparing for a significant shift in his competitive weight class ahead of Olympic qualification next year.
Makin has collected medals for Britain at both the World and European championships while competing at 75kg. However, with 75kg no longer featuring on the Olympic programme, he faces a binary choice: drop to 70kg or climb to 80kg. Despite twice becoming a national champion at light-middleweight, Makin is leaning towards the heavier option for his Olympic qualification campaign.
It's either 70 or 80kgs for me, which is a massive jump either side. I'm looking at doing 80 kilos and I'm going to progress on that. I'm going to go up a weight and build into a new weight.
The Liverpool fighter explained his reasoning for moving upwards rather than cutting further weight.
It's something that I'm confident of doing. With the right team around me, I'll be able to progress in that weight. It's a big ask to keep performing day after day, while getting your weight really low. I'd rather be boxing 100 per cent and giving everything.
Makin's recent form underscores his credentials as a genuine medal contender. At the September 2026 European Championships, Makin won bronze after defeating Romania's Marian Alexandru Bulea and Armenia's Marat Mikaelyan, then losing 4–1 to Azerbaijan's Saidjamshid Jafarov in the semifinal. This success came after a significant period away from competition. Makin returned to competition at the Czech Grand Prix in June 2026 after a nine-month layoff for shoulder surgery; he competed at 75kg. The shoulder injury had been sustained during his run to the semifinals at the 2025 World Championships.
His bronze medal from Bulgaria adds to the bronze he secured at the World Championships held in his Liverpool hometown, a tournament that carried enormous personal significance.
I'm glad to come home back with another medal. With it being in Liverpool, the World Championships, there was a lot of pressure on me to do well, thankfully I did.
The contrasting atmospheres of the two tournaments shaped his performances differently.
Out in Bulgaria it was a little bit different. More relaxed and just focusing on the fight more than anything. Just mainly [thought] go out there and enjoy it, and I did. [The Worlds] was great for me as well, especially medalling in such a big tournament, the icing on the cake. It's definitely a memory that I'll always be thankful for and never forget as well.
Born on October 28, 2003, Makin has already compiled an impressive resume at elite level. He won England Boxing Elite Championships titles at under 71kg in both 2023 and 2024, establishing himself as a consistent performer on the domestic stage before stepping up to international competition.
Looking beyond the immediate Olympic qualification campaign, Makin harbours ambitions that extend far into his professional career. He is targeting the Los Angeles Games in 2028, but his longer-term vision centres on emulating Liverpool's storied tradition of world-class fighters.
Especially with a lot of great champions that have come from the city, that's always been a massive dream of mine, to follow in their footsteps and create a story for myself.
His aspirations are unambiguous about the heights he intends to reach.
I have ambitions of being a world champion and one of the best in the world, that's my aim come the end of my career.
Makin is acutely aware of the unique advantage his city provides in terms of fan support and the platform it offers elite fighters.
We're very well known for our great crowds and how we back our fighters, not even fighters but sportspeople. We get behind them and support them massively. It would be great one day to bring a massive fight to Liverpool and give the fans what they deserve and perform in front of them.
For now, however, his focus remains entirely on the immediate challenge ahead.
It's all focused now on the Olympic qualifications which will be next year. I'm looking forward to a busy end of the year and a massive focus to next year.
