EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships commented by EUBC President Franco Falcinelli

After nine intense competition days, it has just concluded the 10th edition of the European Women’s Championships, held for the first time in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Mr. Franco Falcinelli, President of EUBC, the body responsible of all the Continental boxing activity, taken note of the successful outcome of the most important European event, highlighted the continued progress of boxing, confirming the great innovations in projections of Tokyo 2020.

“European Women’s Championships in Sofia confirmed the great vitality of the women boxing in our Continent. 28 Team have participated to the perfect organization offered by the Bulgarian Boxing Federation, leaded by President Krassimir Ininski: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales. Russia and Ukraine brought full Teams, meanwhile Azerbaijan, Hungary and Turkey 9 boxers. The Team Ranking presents Russia on the top with 4 gold and 4 bronze medals, Bulgaria on the second place with 3 gold medal, followed by Turkey, England and Azerbaijan with 1 gold medal each. But also Ukraine, Poland, France, Wales, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Belarus, Italy and Czech Republic brought their athletes on podium. 15 Countries out of 28 have won a medal, demonstrating a good quality spread of European women boxing”.

News in projection of Tokyo 2020?

“European Women’s Championships closed the 2016 Continental competitions and starts the new four-year Olympic cycle 2016 – 2020. We are confident in a higher presence of women boxers in Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. At least 5 weight categories on the same bout duration of men boxers: 3 round of 3 minutes each. We are working in order to increase the number of women “Officials – Referees and Judges”. More women between Referees and Judges, ITOs, but also Coaches, Doctors and Physiotherapists. It is the case to affirm that the women’s boxing will have a bright future”.

This Championships in Sofia marked the firewall to some veterans, protagonists of the previous editions like Kovacs (HUN), Stoyka Petrova (BUL), Svensson (SWE), Torlopova (RUS), Fontjn (NED), Laurell (SWE) and Davide (ITA) and giving space on podium to new talents, like Silva (ITA) 21 years old, Burcu (TUR) 22 years old, Rosie (WAL) 20 years old, Petrovic (UKR) 20 years old and Desmond (IRL) 20 year old.

from left the President of Bulgaria Boxing Federation Krassimir Ininski with  Krassen Kralev, Minister of Sport of Bulgaria giving the celebration plaque to the EUBC President Mr. Franco Falcinelli

The final stages have seen 8 Russian boxers, 5 Turkish, 4 Azerbaijani, 3 Bulgarian, English and Polish, 2 Belorussian, French and Ukrainian, one Hungarian, Italian, Irish, Czech, Finnish and Swedish, confirming the power of Russian Team, but also showing the evolution of other Nations and the return on the top of Northern Europe like Finland (silver), Wales (silver and bronze), Sweden (silver) and Czech Republic with the bronze medal won by Schmoranzova in 69 kg weight category, which repeated the medal won in 2006 in Warsaw in 70 kg weight category at the age of 19 y.o. Wales has started with 4 boxers and brought home 1 bronze medal in 75 kg weight category (Price 22 y.o.) and in 64 kg (Rosie 20 y.o.), who lost in the Finals against the Russian boxer Ordina too many not detected open glove punches, awarded over the effective merits. The Finals have seen many expert athletes competing, confirmed by average age of athletes: 28,8 for gold medalists and 26,1 for silver medalists. The Russian boxer Saveleva (51 kg) has already won gold medal at the World Championships 2010 and silver medals at the World and European Championships 2008, while at the European Championships 2014 has been defeated in the Finals by the Italian Marzia Davide. Her opponent, Kob from Ukraine (29 y.o.), present in Rio, gold medalist at European Championships 2009 and bronze in 2010. In the light weight, Abramova (26 y.o.) clearly won against the Finnish Potkonen (36 y.o.), the veteran of this edition, who conclude with this silver medal her golden year, added to the bronze medal in Rio, thanks to success against Taylor in the quarter Finals. The third Russian gold arrives with Ordina (64 kg), already mentioned previously and the fourth gold with Magomedalieva (+81 kg), gold medalist in 2014, but excluded from Rio. Bulgaria brought home 3 gold medals thanks to a great performance of Asenova (48 kg), started very well against Duta (ROU), who won against Asenova in the Finals in 2014. Characterized by an essential counter attack boxing style and a great footwork Asenova beat in Finals Sandebjer (SWE), 32 y.o., on the ring by more than 10 years and favorite in Semi Finals against Silva (ITA) with the score 2-1. In 54 kg weight category the emerging Petrova (26 y.o.), clearly won a great match with the Azerbaijani Alimardanova. In 57 kg weight category, very balanced match between Eliseeva and the talented Burcu (22 Years old) won by the Eliseeva. The Azerbaijani Vystropova, 28 years old, silver and bronze medalist in the World Championships in 2012 and 2014 won the 69kg weight category dominating all opponents. England Boxing get a gold medal in the 75kg weight category, Gale was able to win with the French Nicar. In the 81kg weight category the Turkish Guneri, after two World Championship bronze medal (in 2014 and 2016) get the European Championship gold medal. Great performances from all the Turkish Team with five athletes in the semi-finals and three in the finals.

Among the most representative National Federations; Sweden with 6 registered athletes has the younger average (23,5 years old) follows by Italy (23.7) Hungary and Turkey (23.8), then Ukraine and Croatia (24.1), Romania and Welsh (24.5) Azerbaijan (24.9) France and Ireland (25) England and Poland (25.4) Bulgaria and Belarus (27) Finland (29.2) and the Russian team (29.4).

by Giuliano Orlando