Day 1: Ireland’s Jude Gallagher impressed in the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships

The 21st edition of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships began with its first preliminary day in Albena, Bulgaria where 255 boxers from 32 countries are fighting for the medals. Ireland’s Jude Gallagher impressed the experts in the first day with his triumph over England’s favourite Cameron Paul.

The city of Albena hosted the 2013 edition of the AIBA Women’s Youth & Junior Boxing Championships exactly four years ago. After four years of break top level of boxing will be returning to the city of Albena which is located off the coast of the Black Sea. Record number of eight countries sent maximum number of 13 boxers to the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships.

In the opening bout of the whole EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships Ireland’s Jude Gallagher delivered a sensation when he defeated England’s EUBC European Schoolboys Champion favourite Cameron Paul. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the Irish boxer which was a key contest at the pinweight (46kg) in Albena on Day1.

Azerbaijan’s Maksud Khasmetov is another favourite at the pinweight (46kg) who arrived with unbeaten series to Albena. The 16-year-old Azeri boxer won the Yukov Prizes Junior Tournament in Belarus and the Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup in Nakhichevan three months ago. The Azeri talent won all of the rounds against Italy’s Francesco Paolo Di Fiore and advanced to last 16 in Albena.

Georgia’s Luka Kublashvili was silver medallist in the Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup in Azerbaijan in June and arrived to the venue of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships as a secret favourite of the pinweight (46kg). The 16-year-old talent controlled all of the rounds against Germany’s Franklyn Dwomoh and secured his place in the next preliminary stage.

Slovakia’s Alexander Tanko, whose elder brother is member of the national elite team, began his campaign well in the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Albena. The Slovakian bantamweight (54kg) boxer delivered his best ever performance in the opening day against Denmark’s EUBC European Confederation Schoolboys Boxing Championships silver medallist Anas Khattab 4:1 and joined to the last 16.

Hungary’s EUBC European Confederation Schoolboys Boxing Championships bronze medallist Lionel Berecz arrived to Albena from the city of Eger which hosted the Bornemissza Junior Memorial Tournament this May. The 16-year-old Hungarian featherweight (57kg) talent had to do his very best to beat Bulgaria’s Ivan Naskov but finally his hand was raised.

Belarus’ Vadzim Kurbachou was bronze medallist in the last edition of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Kaposvar and involved to the national team still back in 2014. The 16-year-old Belarusian won all of the rounds against Germany’s Nikolas Gorst at the light welterweight (63kg) with his impressive combinations and his previous experiences paid off in Albena.

Ukraine’s EUBC European Schoolboys Champion Yaroslav Mykhalushko dominated the first round against Italy’s Salvatore Cavallaro in their welterweight (66kg) contest and did not give any chance to his opponent. The Ukrainian gold medal contender launched lethal punches in the later actions and the Irish referee confirmed his RSC success in the second round.

Aleksei Dronov is the current Russian Junior National Champion who won the Aleksandr Koshkin Memorial Tournament in Moscow just before the start of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships. The 16-year-old Russian heavyweight (+80kg) boxer arrived in top shape in Albena which he proved against Ireland’s Cathal Crowley whose ringside abandoned their unequal contest in the first round.