Croatia’s Toni Filipi did a remarkable performance in Braila on Day3

The third competition day of the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships was longer than the previous ones in Braila, Romania where 29 contests were in the official schedule today. Croatia’s Toni Filipi did a remarkable performance in the third competition day at the heavyweight (91kg). The winners of today’s bout need only one further step to get guaranteed medal in the championships.

In the first bout of the third competition day Turkey’s Burak Yucel met with Germany’s Salah Ibrahim at the light flyweight (49kg). The German boxer tried to use his height advantage to keep the distance against his Turkish opponent and his well-built tactic worked well in the bout. The 18-year-old German talent will be boxing with France’s star Billal Bennama who eliminated Russia’s Volodya Mnatsakanyan in a top contest.

Ukraine’s Vitalii Tereshchuk arrived to the venue of the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships as a favourite of the welterweight (69kg). The Ukrainian boxer felt the tempo well enough in the first round but Ireland’s Eugene McKeever proved his amazing stamina and did not give up the fight. The inexperienced Irish talent knocked down his Ukrainian opponent in the end of the second round but Tereshchuk renewed in the third and won their spectacular close contest.

Miroslav Ishchenko Kapuler joined to the Israeli team only this year following his participations in the Ukrainian team. The Israeli boxer had to meet with Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Adem Fetahovic who was near to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Bosnian welterweight (69kg) boxer launched dangerous jabs in the first round and continued his attacks in the second. Ishchenko had to go to the medical corner in the second round and finally Fetahovic was able to win the contest with his stronger punches.

Croatia’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Toni Filipi won the Bocskai Memorial Tournament in February and continued his winning path also in Braila. The 21-year-old Croatian heavyweight (91kg) boxer was in different level than his Romanian rival and after the second knock down the referee ended their unequal contest. Filipi’s next opponent will be Belarus’ Maksim Kazlou in the quarter-final.

Lithuania’s Tomas Olberkis tried to work from closer distance against Germany’s Lucian Kuhne in their heavyweight (91kg) bout but his opponent was also enough focused in the first round. The Lithuanian had more experiences in the international level than his German opponent and won the bout by unanimous decision. Olberkis will now meet with Ukraine’s Ramazan Muslimov who defeated Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Elvir Sendro in a close bout.

Ukraine’s Vitalii Pokuliak joined to the national team only in the recent months and tried to start well in the championships. The Ukrainian super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer controlled all of the rounds against his Irish opponent, Thomas Carty and advanced to the next stage of the championships where his rival will be Germany’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner Peter Kadiru.

Moldova’s Danil Platonovschi was bronze medallist in the Strandja Memorial Tournament where he defeated high-ranked boxers. The Moldovan light flyweight (49kg) talent met with Georgia’s National Elite Champion Nodari Darbaidze in the evening session in the battle of the southpaw boxers. The Georgian boxer controlled the second and third rounds and his efforts were enough to turn back their contest in Braila.

Romania’s Dragos Manu involved to the squad in the final minute just before the start of the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships but he was motivated to show his technique in the front of the home crowd. The Romanian light flyweight (49kg) boxer tried to keep the distance and use his longer hands against his Belarusian opponent, Yauheni Karmilchyk who had more experiences in the international level. The Belarusian did an amazing finish and his hand was raised after the final bell which means he will be boxing for the guaranteed medal with Armenia’s Artur Hovhannisyan.

Georgia’s current EUBC European Youth Champion Eskerkhan Madiev moved up to the welterweight (69kg) in the recent two months and arrived to Braila as a secret favourite. The Georgian boxer had to meet with another medal contender Romania’s Marian Pita who is three years older than his Caucasian opponent. Madiev began the bout in perfect rhythm and took the lead in all scorecards after three minutes of fight. Pita had great punches in the third round against his top rival but the Georgian was able to win their narrow bout.

Hungary’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist 19-year-old Laszlo Kozak did not repeat his previous performance in the opening round in comparison to his first contest. His opponent, Germany’s two years older Paul Wall had stronger punches in the first minutes and took the lead. The Hungarian welterweight (69kg) boxer had better rounds in the second and third but his efforts were not able to turn back the bout. The German boxer will now meet with Italy’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner favourite Vincenzo Arecchia in the quarter-final.

France’s Paul Omba Biongolo won his opening contest in the championships by RSC and he did not give also any chance to Albania’s Indrit Laci who was his second opponent at the heavyweight (91kg). The Hungarian referee counted the Albanian in the first round and after Biongolo’s second lethal punch he stopped the unequal contest. The French boxer’s next rival will be Netherlands’ Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Roy Korving which will be a unique quarter-final in Braila.

Austria’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Aleksandar Mraovic began boxing only in 2012 but he was able to get medals in the main junior and youth competitions. The 19-year-old Austrian super heavyweight (+91kg) talent met with Netherlands’ Stanley Koemans who competed for his country at the very first time in the elite level. Mraovic attacked from the first seconds against his taller Dutch rival and advanced to the quarter-finals where his next opponent will be Poland’s Kamil Bodzioch.

In featured image: Toni Filipi CRO