Cyprus, England, Latvia, Poland and Spain earned titles in the 1st Tenerife Island Women’s Boxing Tournament

The final competition day of the Tenerife Island Women’s Boxing Tournament impressed all of the experts in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The Cyprians dominated the junior part of the new international tournament before the youngsters as Spain’s Laura Fuertes, England’s Gemma Richardson, Latvia’s Beatrise Rozentale and Poland’s Martyna Jancelewicz all amazed in the day of the finals.

Following the Boxam Elite Tournament and the Boxam Youth & Junior Tournament, the third Spanish event was a new competition in the boxing map. Due to the postponement of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, the event was held for the elite female boxers in Tenerife next to the youth and junior talents.

The first edition of the Tenerife Island Women’s Boxing Tournament was one of the last international competitions in 2021 besides to the Golden Gloves Tournament. The Technical Delegate of the Tenerife Island Women’s Boxing Tournament was Mr. Dragoljub Radovic of Montenegro.

The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the health controls were the responsibility of the local organizers in Spain avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the new edition of the Tenerife Island Women’s Boxing Tournament.

The bout of the day

Spain’s Laura Fuertes joined to their elite national team in 2018 and she progressed rapidly in the international competitions. The Spanish talent had plenty of injuries in the recent two years but she returned in top shape at the Tenerife Island Women’s Boxing Tournament. Fuertes moved up to the flyweight (52kg) and she had a tough semi-final in Santa Cruz de Tenerife but managed that contest. The 22-year-old boxer faced in the final with Wales’ tall sensation, Helen Jones who has been preparing to the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Fuertes tried to reduce the fighting distance and she had the power to do her best against the talented Welsh girl and won the bout of the finals.

The surprises of the day

Spain’s Melissa Noemi Gonzalez Tudge moved up three categories and competed at the elite middleweight (75kg) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife where she defeated surprisingly one of the top Polish talents, Daria Parada by split decision. Following that Polish silver medal, another 19-year-old hope and medallist from their Kielce squad, Martyna Jancelewicz defeated her more experienced teammate, Martyna Jancelewicz in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg) which was also a surprise.

The Round-up

Cyprus’ EUBC European Junior Champion Laila Abdullatif achieved the first gold medal in the junior part of the event following she walked over to the title against her teammate, Margarita Kaitani who could not box on the day of the finals. The second Cyprian female junior gold medal was achieved by Limassol-based Christina Tzaragan who controlled her semi-final and continued her winning series in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tzaragan, who trains with coach Mr. Christos Antoniou, controlled most of the exchanges against Spain’s Ana Ubis and won the title of the junior light welterweight (63kg).

Spain’s Marta Lopez del Arbol eliminated a top rival in the semi-finals of the elite minimumweight (48kg) and met in the final with her teammate, Carmen Gonzalez. She joined to the elite national team in 2019 and achieved bronze medal in the last Bocskai Memorial Tournament and moved back to her best category. Lopez used the best fighting distance against Gonzalez and gained the control of their final which means she defeated her main national rival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

England’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Gemma Richardson is a fantastic talent who had the chance to show her energetic style of boxing in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The 20-year-old lightweight (60kg) boxer worked hard against Denmark’s Melissa Mortensen who was born also in 2001. The English girl was stronger and better in the exchanges therefore her hand was raised after the final gong. The elite welterweight (66kg) gold medal was achieved by Latvia’s first ever medallist in an AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships, Beatrise Rozentale. The 19-year-old Latvian stopped EUBC Team’s Jennifer Joklova and earned her first elite tournament title.