Croatia’s 19-year-old Gabrijel Veocic defeated Russia’s AIBA World Champion Gleb Bakshi in the final of the Zagreb Grand Prix
11 October 2020The two female and the six male finals were held in the third day of boxing at the 2nd Zagreb Grand Prix in Croatia’s capital which was broadcasted by the Croatian Sports Television. Ukraine’s promising Yaroslav Khartsyz won the bout of the finals in Zagreb but the main surprise was caused by Croatia’s 19-year-old Gabrijel Veocic who defeated Russia’s AIBA World Champion Gleb Bakshi.
Host Croatia and Russia claimed three gold medals in the Zagreb Grand Prix while Sweden and Ukraine both earned on title in the strong competition. Two of the Croatian winners were born in 2001 who are just newcomers in the elite level this year. Among the Russian AIBA World Champions, Muslim Gadzhimagomedov won the title of the Zagreb Grand Prix at the heavyweight (91kg).
Four different Confederations as Europe, Asia, America and Africa attended in the Zagreb Grand Prix this year. Some unique nations such as Chile, DR Congo, Syria and Afghanistan were also strengthened the competition. The Technical Delegate of the 2nd Zagreb Grand Prix was Mr. Maxim Cherticovtsev of Moldova.
The 2nd Zagreb Grand Prix was a money prize competition once again after the first edition which took place in 2019. The gold, the silver and bronze medallists will be awarded also cash in euros after the day of the finals.
All of the expenses related to accommodation, meals and local transportation are the responsibility of the Local Croatian Organizing Committee. The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the controls were the responsibility of the local organizers in Croatia.
Bout of the day
Ukraine’s Yaroslav Khartsyz was silver medallist in the 2017 EUBC European U22 Boxing Championships in Romania and in the recent three and half years he moved ahead in their elite national ranking. He is the top Ukrainian lightweight (63kg) boxer who used his precise technique to advance to the finals of the Zagreb Grand Prix. Khartsyz, who won the strong Strandja Memorial Tournament on January, met in the final with Russia’s EUBC European Boxing Championships silver medallist Gabil Mamedov. The Russian moved forward from the first seconds but the Ukrainian counter-punches were successful. Khartsyz was tactically better than his 26-year-old Russian rival and won the bout of the finals in Zagreb.
The surprise of the day
Croatia’s Gabrijel Veocic claimed medals in EUBC events in the recent years, last time a bronze at the Sofia 2019 EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships. The 19-year-old Croatian middleweight (75kg) boxer joined to the elite age group this January and impressed in the Zagreb Grand Prix. Veocic caused the top sensation in the day of the finals when he faced with Russia’s defending AIBA World Champion Gleb Bakshi. The Croatian talent boxed over his previous limit and defeated the six-year-older Russian in the final of the weight class.
The Round-up
Russia’s Vadim Musayev competed several international events in the recent two years and arrived to the Zagreb Grand Prix as one of the favourites of the welterweight (69kg). The experienced Russian boxer was too smart for France’s Makan Traore in the final of the event. His teammate Raziuan Mazikhov had a tough battle against Croatia’s Leo Cvetkovic in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg) but he managed to win that contest.
Russia’s heavyweight (91kg) AIBA World Champion and Minsk 2019 European Games winner Muslim Gadzhimagomedov is one of the stars in the whole globe who returned to the international stage in the Zagreb Grand Prix. The 23-year-old Russian used his longer reach in the final against Ukraine’s former AIBA Junior World Champion Robert Marton and bagged the gold medal of the category.
Croatia’s European Games bronze medallist Marko Milun has put up a few kilograms of muscles during the quarantine period and after that in the gym which show his extraordinary motivations. The Croatian super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer won the last male final of the Zagreb Grand Prix in spite of the fact, his opponent was Russia’s experienced National Champion Ivan Veriasov.
The first title in the female part of the Zagreb Grand Prix was achieved by Croatia’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Nikolina Cacic who demonstrated her power against Serbia’s Dragana Golic in the final of the bantamweight (54kg). Sweden’s EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships bronze medallist Agnes Alexiusson had a tough start in the Zagreb Grand Prix but in the final of the lightweight (60kg) she was too smart for Croatia’s Marija Malenica.
