Dynnik, Testa, Akbar and Jurk were the main sensations of the second part of the semi-finals in Vladikavkaz

The second part of the semi-finals was held in the eighth competition day at the European U22 Boxing Championships in Vladikavkaz today where the winners advanced to the finals. Russia’s Ekaterina Dynnik, Italy’s Irma Testa, and England’s Mohammed Harris Akbar were the bests on Day8 when Germany’s Viktor Jurk delivered the main sensation.

Boxers who were born in 1997, 1998, 1999 and in 2000 are eligible to attend in the European U22 Boxing Championships in Vladikavkaz. All of the ten women and men weight classes are in action in the European U22 Boxing Championships in the Russian city where 20 winners will be crowned after the finals.

Bout of the day

Russia’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Ekaterina Dynnik and Netherlands’ EUBC European Women’s Youth Champion Chelsey Heijnen has done a superb semi-final at the light welterweight (64kg). Both boxers were born in 1999 and knew each other from the youth competitions and prepared well enough to their meeting. The Dutch boxer tried to launch more punches in the first round and she looked energetic in the opening minutes. Dynnik returned to their spectacular combat with top punches in the second and felt the tempo better. Dynnik and Heijnen both were fresh enough in the final round and after the last gong the Russian boxer’s hand was rose who finished the bout with strong combinations.

Surprise of the day

Germany’s Viktor Jurk is a newcomer in the U22 national team following his youth ages and his participation at the EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships. The 18-year-old German moved up to the super heavyweight (+91kg) and tried to use his longer reach against Armenia’s Gurgen Hovhannisyan. Jurk was taller but the Caucasian boxer was more experienced than his German rival and looked confident in the first round. Jurk found his best fighting range and worked more on feet which were the key of his unexpected success in the semi-final.

The Round-up

Geliusa Galieva claimed silver medal at the 2018 FISU University World Boxing Championships and arrived to Vladikavkaz as top favourite of the women’s flyweight (51kg). The 22-year-old Russian had difficulties in the first minutes against Turkey’s Hamide Yavuz who surprised Galieva in the opening round with her aggressiveness. Galieva used her longer hands more successfully from the second round and her counter-punches were dangerous for Yavuz. The Russian boxer tried to keep her safest distance also in the third which was her best round and it meant that Galieva could beat Yavuz in a hectic match.

Italy’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion and Rio 2016 Olympian Irma Testa is in top form once again in this important year. She eliminated her top Russian rival in the quarter-final of the women’s featherweight (57kg) and after that success Testa was confident in the next bout. The Italian boxer was too smart for Sweden’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Stephanie Thour in the first round and took the lead. Testa fought more in closer distance in the second round which was slightly better for Thour who moved down to the featherweight (57kg) only in the recent weeks. The experienced Italian kept her Swedish opponent long in the third and celebrated her next success in Vladikavkaz.

Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska won the gold medal at the light heavyweight (81kg) in the EUBC U22 European Boxing Championships in Targu Jiu one year ago. The Polish boxer moved down to the middleweight (75kg) which is better for her physical skills and she is now near to win another title in Vladikavkaz. The Polish boxer moved ahead and her aggressive style was uncomfortable for her Turkish opponent, Esmanur Koc in the semi-final. Kaczmarska worked well in the bout and will be facing for the title with Russia’s Youth Olympic Games winner and AIBA Youth World Champion Anastasia Shamonova.

Russia’s Kristina Tkacheva had superb junior and youth career before she turned to the elite level on January 2018. The heavyweight (+81kg) boxer was quickly involved to the top national team and claimed bronze medal at the New Delhi 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Tkacheva is from Ulan-Ude, which will be hosting the next edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in October, and she proved her very best against Turkey’s Sueda Sahin in the semi-final.

England’s Mohammed Harris Akbar was bronze medallist in the St. Petersburg 2016 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and moved ahead step by step in his career. The 20-year-old English welterweight (69kg) boxer felt the rhythm well in the semi-final and his technical skills were enough to beat Germany’s Richard Meinecke. Akbar had world class footwork in their meeting which means he is now ready to meet with Russia’s Vakhid Abbasov in the final tomorrow.