Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Ireland, Great Britain and the Czech Republic shined in the opening day of the Youth Olympic Games
15 October 2018The Opening Ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games was hold in October 6 but the boxing tournament has just begun in Buenos Aires today. Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Ireland and Great Britain each won two contests among the European nations in the first competition day of the Youth Olympic Games while the Czech Republic has done a historical success.
Following Singapore and Nanjing the third edition of the Youth Olympic Games is holding in the Argentinean capital in Buenos Aires. The qualification event for the Youth Olympic Games in our continent the EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships was held in Roseto degli Abruzzi in April.
Ireland’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Dean Patrick Clancy was the first boxer from our continent in the opening day. The 17-year-old Irish flyweight (52kg) talent had a tough opponent as first Africa’s No.1 in this category Algeria’s Hichem Maouche. Clancy realized his chances and eliminated his North African rival winning the bout by unanimous decision which means Ireland’s talent will be meeting with Great Britain’s No.1 Ivan Hope Price in the semi-finals.
Ukraine’s two-time EUBC European Youth Champion Maksym Halinichev did not attend in the Budapest 2018 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and prepared only to the Youth Olympic Games. His tactic paid off and started strongly at the men’s bantamweight (56kg) against Nauru’s Christon Amram. Following Halinichev’s easy success the second Ukrainian triumph on Day1 delivered by Taras Bondarchuk who was too strong for New Zealand’s Kasib Murdoch-McKeich at the lightweight (60kg).
Azerbaijan qualified two athletes to Buenos Aires their defending EUBC European Youth Champion at the men’s lightweight (60kg) Nurlan Safarov had to do his very best against Canada’s Spencer Wilcox in his debuting contest at the Youth Olympic Games. His teammate EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Nijat Hasanov spent only a short time in the ring against American Samoa’s Falaniko Tauta. The 18-year-old Azeri welterweight (69kg) boxer knocked down his Oceanian rival and the referee confirmed his RSC success in the first round.
Great Britain’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Karol Itauma is a powerful boxer at the light heavyweight (81kg) who arrived to Buenos Aires in top form. The 18-year-old English star not only controlled his first round against Puerto Rico’s Jancarmelo Morales but he dominated the opening minutes. Itauma was in different level than his Central American and defeated his rival by large margin of differences. His compatriot Hassan Azim also has done superb job on Day1 and eliminated US star Otha Jones at the men’s light welterweight (64kg).
France’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Tallya Brillaux developed significantly in the recent months and her strong punches controlled her fight against Albania’s Elsidita Selaj. The 18-year-old French used her longer reach and the quick footwork well and eliminated her Albanian rival in Buenos Aires. One of the best youth female boxers in the whole globe Russia’s two-time AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Anastasia Shamonova triumphed over Ireland’s Lauren Kelly in another quarter-final at the women’s middleweight (75kg).
Czech Republic’s lone boxer in the Youth Olympic Games Daniel Mikustak has done an amazing comeback and his stamina was one of the bests in the opening day. The 18-year-old Czech heavyweight (91kg) boxer had disadvantages after two rounds against Samoa’s Australian-based OCBC Oceanian Youth Champion Malcolm Preston Matthes. Mikustak did not give up the fight and he has done a fantastic return and turned back the contest in Buenos Aires where he is now in the last four.
