Northampton’s Kenzi Raja wins national boxing title
Northampton Amateur Boxing Club’s rising star, Kenzi “The Bounty Hunter” Raja, has been crowned National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs (NABGC) Class B Junior Under-75kg Champion.
It came after a dominant performance at the finals in Bridlington on Sunday, just two days after celebrating his 16th birthday.
Representing Northampton ABC, Raja battled through one of the country’s toughest youth tournaments with maturity and composure beyond his years. After a unanimous victory in the pre-quarter finals against Western Counties, he progressed to the semi-finals following a bye when his Welsh opponent withdrew from the quarter-final stage.
Raja then faced a strong contender from Horsham in a highly competitive semi-final, where his cleaner, sharper punches earned him a well-deserved decision. In the national final, he squared off against a much taller Newcastle boxer — but height posed no threat to “The Bounty Hunter”. Raja set a relentless pace from the opening bell, showcasing superior skill, timing and ring control to secure a clear unanimous decision and the national crown.
The newly-turned 16-year-old had spent weeks sacrificing birthday celebrations and favourite foods to make weight, demonstrating dedication that impressed both his coaches and clubmates.
His brother and coach, Cody Lutzi, said: “I’m so proud of my younger brother — he deserves this national title! He puts in the work like his life depends on it.”
Raja also trains under the guidance of coach Damien O’Reilly, who praised the teenager’s discipline and hunger for improvement.
This national title marks a major milestone for Northampton ABC and signals a promising future for one of the town’s brightest young boxing talents.