Newsletter EUBC by President Franco Falcinelli – April 2018

Dear Boxing Friends,

there are many news in April.

Certainly, the AIBA project “Diversity in Boxing” and the various EUBC projects, like “The floor to Presidents” e “The Stars of the Ring” will bring more lively European  boxing activity.

From an agonistic point of view, instead, special attetion deserve the EUBC Under 22 European Boxing Championships 2018, just concluded in Targu Jiu (Romania), in addition to boxing international tournaments. From March 24 until April 2 in the Romanian city, many young boxers, men and women, have confirmed thier own pugilistic value, others, however, were noted for their excellent prospects in future.

APRIL MONTHLY ACTIVITY: CHAMPIONSHIPS AND TOURNAMENTS

In April important Champioships and Tournaments will be organized in Italy, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia.

It should be stressed the importance of EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships (men and women) will be held from 17 until 26 April in Roseto degli Abruzzi (Italy).

The Championships is valid for qualification to the World Cup and Youth Olympic Games in Buones Aires 2018. It will be another very important sporting showcase for young boxers from all over Europe.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Italian Boxing Federation for its strong commitment and contribution to the development of European Boxing.

TOURNAMENTS – MONTHLY ACTIVITY 2018

• April 02/07 – 3rd International Youth & Junior Boxing Tournament “Emil Jechev Memorial” (Sofia, Bulgaria);
• April 09/15 – Tournament in the Memory of Nikolai Manger (Kherson, Ukraine);
• April 24/29 – Belgrade Winner (Belgrade, Serbia)

GENERAL ASSESSMENT ON EUBC U. 22 CHAMPIONSHIP 

 Under the sign of technical success and spectacular, in Targu Jiu (Romania), has just concluded the second edition of EUBC Under 22 European Boxing Championships 2018.

This event involved the 80% of the countries members of EUBC, with the participation of 36 nations, seven more than the first edition in Braila (Romania).

Also increased the presence of athletes, more than 200 participants. Increased from 3 to 5, the nations present with the whole team: to Russia, Ukraine and Romania have been added Germany and Turkey. Some countries like England, Georgia, Belarus and Croatia have chosen quality over quantity.

France and Germany couldn’t repeat the conquest of gold obtained in Braila; while  Ukraine has gone from 1 to 2, knowing replace Middle reigning champions Khyzhniak with another very powerful athlete as Tokarchuk and victory even in Lightheavy, thanks to Hrekul, against the Croatian Cvetkovic (19 years), the revelation of category.

Romania and Georgia have confirmed on the podium. Romania, thanks to Robert Jitaru, one of the most spectacular champion of the tournament who managed to repeat the gold.

Didn’t fair so well Aradoaie, that in 2017, had thrilled the public beating, in final, the Russian Gadzhimagomedov. Risen in the Heavy weight, the Romanian was quickly stopped by force from Croatian Toni Filipi.

Georgia, disappointed in the 69 kg from defeat in the last 16 by Madiev against the English Fail, got the gold with Lightwelter Guruli, silver in 2017, defeated by English McCormack.

Finals were characterized by some news: the good and expert Light weight Belarusian Asanau was awarded against the Russian Batyrgaziev; among the ranks of Italy, the 19-year-old Mouhiidine Aziz, the youngest of the category, played 5 mathces to get to the gold, with two rematches along the way: the Austrian Mraovic had knocked out in the semi-finals in Braila and Croatian Milun who had beaten at the tournament in Debrecen (Hungary) at the beginning of the season. He also passed the Turkish Ilyas and Azerbaijani Abdullayev most quoted and titrated.

Medium-high level and general levelling in most categories. Athletes like Zara (ITA) and Bilostotskyi (UKR) in 52 kg; Petrosyan (ARM), Shadalov (GER), Belousov (RUS) and Shakh (BLR) in 56 kg; Shahverdyan (ARM) in 60 kg, Gazibayov (AZE) and Suciu (ROU) in 64 kg, Guler (TUR) and Mamedov (AZE) in 69 kg, in Middle the Serbian Bujisic and the Russian Krataev, like the Light Heavy Naydenov (BUL) and Murashev (RUS), the Heavy Begadze (GEO) and Mechkov (BUL) and the French Super Heavy Aboudou were worth the podium.

Another important goal is the high number of Nations (17) that have gotten the medals. Practically, the 50% of the countries present, confirming the balance already expressed in 2017. As expected, Russia, leads the way with 3 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronzes, improving the performance of 2017. Ukraine is a school with very strong athletes. Georgia, has a good base, like Belarus, while Bulgaria has appeared less bright than usual, counting on Daniel Asenov, the best of the three brothers boxers. Croatia, without having won golds, is considered one of the growing nations, with 2 silvers and 1 bronze, in the heavier categories. Germany hoped in a better balance, present with 10 boxers. had to settle for 4 bronzes. The France scored 1 silver and two bronzes, while Moldova and Israel have repeated the result of Braila: 1 bronze.

The tournament is also open to female sector, confirming the continued growth of boxing movement with 25 Nations. Most notably absent is Russia, in combination with the national tournament.

The final balance awarded, as etimated, Turkey, always expression of boxers-women’s international value. Seven medals (3 golds, 2 silvers and as many bronzes) have confirmed the general strength. Three winners: Delismen (48), Cakiroglu (51) and Sermeneli (75) have experience, strength, and previous victorious. Italy put on the podium 6 athletes of 8 present, with 2 golds, 1 silver and 3 bronzes and promising athletes in the future. Irma Testa appeared as the best in the tournament, having found, just 20 years, after the disappointing experience, an appropriate return to her class.

In almost every category have confirmed the favourites: the English Jones (54 kg), very combative, the Irish Broadhurst (60 kg), very powerful, the Bulgarian Yonuzova, 19 years old  and very promising. 81 kg and + 81 categories were held with only 2 athletes by category, which occurred directly at the finals.

In conclusion, congratulations to the organization headed by the President Vasile Citea and Secretary of the Romanian Federation Sima Viorel, both from good pugilistic past, as the contribution from Alexandr Egorov, EUBC Executive Director and Dmitriy Gaistruk, the Competition Manager of the Championship.

TO SUPPORT OF AIBA PROJECT “DIVERSITY IN BOXING”

International Boxing Association (AIBA) has created a new project called “Diversity in Boxing” available to all 203 National Boxing Federations. This project is the first in a series of initiatives that may be presented in the coming months as conceived by President Interim AIBA Gafur Rahimov. Funded by a sponsor AIBA, the program “Diversity in Boxing” will provide one million Swiss francs for the construction of projects submitted by the various national federations.

From April, all the Federations of our continent may require special funding by sending questions to EUBC that will examine and take final decisions on applications received. The project will support mainly initiatives focussing on good governance and organizational ethics program of the national federations, as well as initiatives for the promotion of boxing for young people and for women’s boxing, but also initiatives for training, upgrading of technicians and arbiters-judges. All financial support will then be monitored by the AIBA providing knowledge, in detail, the allocation system

EUBC PROJECTS

Continues the project “The Floor to Presidents”, that is interviews directed at Presidents of European Boxing Federations, so as to create a direct contact with them and to know programs and projects of individual National Boxing Federations.

I am very pleased to inform you that EUBC has launched a new project called “The Stars of the Ring“.

We want to emphasise the feats and values of our best boxers in order to make them popular and followed with more attention from social media. Soon, on official EUBC website and on EUBC social media, will be published the interviews with the best European boxers who have distinguished themselves in the major international competitions. We should not forget the key role of coaches. Them too will be dedicated specific interviews with the aim of get to know better their teaching methodologies and, if possible, meet their little secrets of teaching boxing.

WORLD SERIES OF BOXING (WSB) – SEASON 8

March  – RESULTS

WSB8 – RESULTS WEEK 5 (2 March 2018)

Croatian Knights 1 – 4 France Fighting Roosters

British Lionhearts 5 – 0 Italia Thunder

Patriot Boxing Team 4 – 1 Indian Tigers

WSB8 – RESULTS WEEK 6  (11 March 2018)

Patriot Boxing Team 5- 0 Astana Arlans Kazakhstan

WSB8 – RESULTS WEEK 7  (16/17 March 2018)

Italia Thunder 1 – 4 British Lionhearts

France Fighting Roosters 5 – 0 Croatian Knights

WSB8 – RESULTS WEEK 8  (23 March 2018)

China Dragons 1 – 4 Patriot Boxing Team

WSB8 – RESULTS WEEK 9  (31 March 2018)

Patriot Boxing Team 5 – 0 China Dragons