Belarus’ Asanau and Hungary’s Kovacs did great wins in the Bocskai Memorial Tournament on Day1
08 February 2018The prestigious Bocskai Memorial Tournament began with its first competition day in Debrecen which is located in the Eastern region of the country. Belarus’ Dzmitry Asanau won his key contest in the first competition day and delivered the best performance together with Hungary’s Richard Kovacs.
Women elite boxers added to the 61st Bocskai Memorial Tournament in the three official Olympic weight classes last year which was the comeback of the female athletes at the very first time since 2003. The current Bocskai Memorial Tournament is holding in 4 women and 9 men weight classes but due the high number of participants the local organizers had to separate the boxers in two weight classes.
The first edition of the Bocskai Memorial Tournament was held in Debrecen in 1956 when Hungary’s three-time Olympic Champion and national legend Laszlo Papp was also an active boxer. The competition was strong enough but the Hungarian Boxing Association decided to raise the level of the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in the recent years.
Altogether 118 men and 18 women boxers from 22 countries are attending in the 62nd edition of the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in Debrecen. Russia, Kazakhstan, England, Ukraine, Mongolia, Italy, Belarus, Romania, Poland, host Hungary and Netherlands are all attending among the top boxing nations in the Bocskai Memorial Tournament.
Hungary’s Martin Virban was silver medallist in their National Championships and short after his 20th birthday he delivered a sensational performance in the opening round of the flyweight (52kg) in Debrecen. The young Hungarian tried to avoid his opponent’s Ukraine’s WSB hope Maksym Fatych’s punches and his counter-attacks were successful.
Netherlands’ EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Enrico La Cruz is one of the best boxer at the lightweight (60kg) in our continent who started well enough in Debrecen. The 24-year-old Dutch hope dominated all of the rounds against Sweden’s newcomer in the national team Abdulrahim Mohammed.
One of the most anticipated bout in the first competition day was expected between Belarus’ AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dzmitry Asanau and Israel’s former EUBC European Champion Pavel Ishchenko. The former-Ukrainian Ishchenko felt the rhythm only in the first round but Asanau’s tactical change was enough for the Belarusian to beat his rival in the bout of the day.
Hungary’s Roland Galos was gold medallist in the 2013 EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Rotterdam and following some hard years he returned to the national team. The 22-year-old Hungarian lightweight (60kg) boxer launched effective punches against Kazakhstan’s Asian Students Champion Yertugan Zeinuldinov and secured his place in the next round.
Hungary’s Richard Kovacs has qualified for the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships where he won his opening contest. The 20-year-old light welterweight (64kg) boxer robbed to the cream of the European continent only last year and he was confident against Monaco’s young sensation Hugo Micallef in his debuting contest.
Belarus’ EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Pavel Kastramin was Rio 2016 Olympian and he is among Europe’s best welterweight (69kg) boxers. The Belarusian hope used his single jabs to keep the best distance against Netherlands’ Xavier Kohlen and celebrated his first win after the final gong.
Netherlands’ two-time EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Peter Mullenberg returned from his injury and he was hungry to a success in his opening bout in Debrecen. The 30-year-old Dutch light heavyweight (81kg) boxer had to show his best against Ukraine’s former EUBC European Youth Champion Vladyslav Mikhailov but he knew the way how to beat his opponent.
Croatia’s Marko Milun won the title in their National Championships at the super heavyweight (+91kg) but he is competing in his first ever international competition in Debrecen. The inexperienced Croatian boxer shocked Netherlands’ National Champion Stanley Koemans with his tough punches and after his sensational blows the ringside doctor finished their bout in the first round.
