Day 2: Sammy Lee and Nikita Piskunov did world class performance in the Boxam Youth Tournament

The Boxam Youth Tournament continued with its second competition day in Spain where 28 quarter-finals were held in one session. Welshmen Sammy Lee and Russia’s Nikita Piskunov were the bests in the day of the quarter-finals in the competition.

A small town near to Benidorm, namely Finestrat is the host of the Boxam Youth Tournament this year. The winners of today’s contests advanced to the semi-finals of the Boxam Youth Tournament and are guaranteed medallists.

In the first bout of the second competition day Italy’s Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament silver medallist Alessandro Adami was the first boxer who was in action again as on Day1. The Italian eliminated Spain’s Alberto Arroyo in the preliminary round of the flyweight (52kg) and met with Germany’s Umar Bashir Bajwa in the quarter-final. The Italian talent did not give any chance to his German opponent and after the second count the referee stopped the bout in the first round.

Russia’s Maksim Zaytsev won the gold medal in the Emil Zhechev Youth Memorial Tournament in Sofia this April and overcame his rival, Ireland’s Liam Glennon in the first round of their quarter-final. The 18-year-old Russian flyweight (52kg) boxer used his longer reach to keep the best fighting distance. Zaytsev dominated their contest in Finestrat and the referee ended their contest before the final gong.

Aaron Carlos Santana eliminated his teammate Jose Ramon Bejarano in the first preliminary round in the Boxam Youth Tournament and the Spanish talent met with Lithuania’s Mantas Gricius as second in Finestrat. The 18-year-old Santana, who has got national titles in Spain, received tough punches from his Lithuanian opponent in the first round therefore he raised his speed from the second in the front of the home crowd. Santana gave in everything and turned back their contest in the quarter-final of the lightweight (60kg).

Russia’s AIBA Junior World Champion Nikita Piskunov is member of the national team since 2013 who is one of the best European youth boxer currently. The Russian lightweight (60kg) boxer had to meet with another top talent, Finland’s Asseme Nouali who won the Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament this year. The Russian boxer was confident, moved forward and simply launched more punches as well than his Finnish opponent. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the strong Russian boxer.

France’s EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Jeremy Dupetitmagneux joined to the youth age group this year and boxed after his close triumph in the preliminary round. The 17-year-old French boxer met with Spain’s Enrique Jose Florentino Mejia and his hooks worked well in the first round. Dupetitmagneux controlled the later part of the bout and advanced to the last four in Finestrat.

Spain’s experienced youth national team member Pablo Coy had a few warm moments in the opening minute of his welterweight (69kg) bout against Norway’s Don Emini. The Spanish boxer adopted the rhythm of the contest still in the first round and reduced the fighting range successfully. The Norwegian, who began boxing in 2013, did not give up the contest and his new tactical elements delivered for him a surprise success in the quarter-final of the Boxam Youth Tournament which means he is a guaranteed medallist in the event.

Thailand’s Bannaphon Pannon claimed bronze medal in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in July and since then he moved up to the welterweight (69kg). The 17-year-old Thai talent, whose father is two-time Olympian Suban Pannon, had a strong opponent in the quarter-final, Germany’s Richard Meinecke who was effective in the first round. The German southpaw used the best tactic against his Thai opponent and his counter-attacks were enough to go through to the semi-finals.

Germany’s Omar Riedel tried to rule the middle of the ring against Scotland’s Ryan Reekie in the first light heavyweight (81kg) bout of the Boxam Youth Tournament. The Scottish boxer was a hard target for the German boxer in the first round which was a tactical one. Both boxers stepped into the gas in the second round but Reekie had better jabs in the final minutes therefore the Scottish advanced to the last four.

Welshmen Sammy Lee is one of the best European youth boxer at the light heavyweight (81kg) who proved his strength in the first round against Austria’s Kushtrim Veseli. The 18-year-old Welshmen, who won the Pinatar Youth Tournament in Spain one year ago, enjoyed the contest against his Austrian rival and moved forward without any stoppage. Lee’s dominancy continued until the end of the final bell therefore he is in the last four with superb performance.

Thailand’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Thitisan Panmod felt the rhythm well against Ireland’s Diarmuid Toland in the first round of their light flyweight (49kg) contest. The Irish Junior National Champion tried to moved more in the second round but the 17-year-old Thai talent was quicker in the final minutes and advanced to the semi-finals in the event.

Spain’s best youth bantamweight (56kg) boxer Antonio Barrul tried to keep the fighting distance against Finland’s Masi Jurvanen who was aggressive in the first round. The 18-year-old Finnish boxer, who moved up one weight class this year, had great jabs while Barrul used his hooks as best weapon. Each of the scoring cards showed 19:19 after six minutes of fight but Jurvanen was better in the final round and advanced to the last four.

France’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Enzo Grau moved up to the bantamweight (56kg) this year and acclimatized quickly to this category. The 18-year-old French talent controlled the first round against Scotland’s John Casey and took the lead in all scorecards. Grau did enough in the bout to win it and will be meeting in the semi-final with Lithuania’s Karolis Karpicius who eliminated Spain’s Isaac Lopez.

Spain’s Alberto Alcaraz was joined to the national team this year but he achieved good results also in the international competitions as well. The Spanish light welterweight (64kg) boxer eliminated Thailand’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Peerapat Yeasungnoen in the preliminary round but he had difficulties in the opening round against Sweden’s Roberto Bengtsson when the referee counted him. The Spaniard turned up the heat but Bengtsson was in top shape today and defeated the Spanish No.1 in this weight class.

Musa Maruev is the current Russian Youth National Champion at the light welterweight (64kg) but he had to meet with Scotland’s Tyler Jolly who competed in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in St. Petersburg one year ago. The 18-year-old Russian moved closer to the taller Scottish boxer and his combinations landed in the target areas several times therefore the Grozniy-based hope advanced to the semi-finals.

Finland’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist and Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup winner Krenar Aliu did not do his very best in the first round against Austria’s Ahmed Hagag. The one year younger Austrian was a competitive rival for the experienced Finnish heavyweight (91kg) boxer but finally Aliu was able to find his best frequency and advanced to the last four.