Finland’s duo Potkonen and Gustafsson advanced to the finals in Sofia

The sixth competition day was held in the EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria where the semi-finals were in the official program. Finland’s strong duo Mira Potkonen and Elina Gustafsson advanced to the finals where Russia and Bulgaria will be representing more than half of the boxers.

Altogether 20 bouts have been held in the sixth competition day in Sofia where the winners are advanced to the finals. Finally 146 boxers from 32 countries are attending in the EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Sofia where 10 champions will be crowned on June 12.

The following 8 nations advanced to the finals of the EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Sofia:

– Russia: 7 finalists

– Bulgaria: 4 finalists

– Turkey: 3 finalists

– Finland: 2 finalists

– France, Italy, Netherlands, Ukraine: 1 finalist

Bulgaria’s defending EUBC European Women’s Champion Sevda Asenova eliminated Romania’s former EUBC European Women’s Champion in the preliminary stage of the light flyweight (48kg) in the last edition two years ago. The Bulgarian veteran had to meet with Duta once again but this time in the semi-final of the competition. Asenova had difficulties in the first round but her stamina was enough to win the key semi-final by split decision and will be meeting for the title with Russia’s Ekaterina Paltseva.

Russia’s Svetlana Soluyanova is a newcomer in the national elite team but she could be the country’s next big weapon at the Olympic flyweight (51kg). Their current National Champion eliminated the Seed No.1 of the category Ukraine’s Rio 2016 Olympian Tetyana Kob, Norway’s Veronica Kim Losvik during her previous roads and did enough against Bulgaria’s Strandja Memorial Tournament winner Gabriela Dimitrova. The Russian boxer used her longer reach in the semi-final and will be boxing for the gold medal with Turkey’s EUBC European U22 Champion Busenaz Cakiroglu.

Bulgaria’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist and EUBC European Women’s Champion Stoyka Petrova eliminated England’s defending EUBC European U22 Champion Ebonie Jones in the quarter-finals of the bantamweight (54kg) and following that success she was confident in the semi-final. The Bulgarian veteran looked energetic and quicker than Russia’s Viktoria Kuleshova which means Petrova will be facing for her next title with France’s lone finalist Delphine Mancini.

Russia’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Daria Abramova moved down one category in the recent half year but she was adopted the speed of the featherweight (57kg) quickly. The Russian boxer was not enough shape in the first round against Ireland’s two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist Michaela Walsh but Abramova stepped into the gas and her strong finish was enough to win the bout by split decision. Abramova’s final opponent will be Bulgaria’s defending champion Stanimira Petrova who bowed out France’s Mona Mestiaen.

Finland’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Mira Potkonen eliminated a top rival Italy’s Irma Testa with superb performance during the preliminaries which was an amazing opening from the star boxer. The Finnish lightweight (60kg) boxer, who won all of her contests since November 2016, had harder road to the finals but she was able to beat Ireland’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Kellie Harrington. Potkonen’s final opponent will be Russia’s Anastasia Beliakova who also won bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Bulgaria’s Melis Yonuzova is one of the most sensational teenage boxers at the EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships. She joined to the elite age group only this January but following her gold medal at the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships, she advanced to the final of the light welterweight (64kg) in Sofia. The 19-year-old Bulgarian eliminated Denmark’s favourite Yvonne Bek Rasmussen in the quarter-finals and she stopped Ukraine’s former AIBA Women’s World Champion Maria Badulina-Bova winning the bout by RSC.

Finland’s Elina Gustafsson joined to the national team only in 2014 but two years later she claimed bronze medal in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Astana. The Finnish welterweight (69kg) boxer landed tough punches in the first round when she met with Italy’s new surprise Assunta Canfora. Gustafsson was powerful, did not stop her attacks and celebrated her wins after the last gong which means she can box for the title with Russia’s Rio 2016 Olympian Iaroslava Iakushina.

Netherlands’ Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Nouchka Fontijn is one of the best middleweight (75kg) boxers in the whole world who arrived to Sofia in perfect form. The Dutch eliminated Russia’s Darima Sandakova in the quarter-finals and met with her old rival Germany’s Sarah Scheurich in the last four. Fontijn used her counter-attacking style and did not give any chance to her German opponent which means Netherlands’ No.1 will be meeting for the title with Ukraine’s Mariya Borutsa.