France’s AIBA World Champion Sofiane Oumiha advanced to the finals of the Cologne Boxing World Cup
19 December 2020France’s star AIBA World Champion Sofiane Oumiha was the main stars of the semi-finals of the Cologne Boxing World Cup in Germany, where he amazed all of the judges and eliminated a top Dutch opponent. Altogether 72 boxers including 21 women are attending in the new edition of the Cologne Boxing World Cup in Germany with many of the European stars on the board.
The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the health controls are the responsibility of the local organizers in Germany to avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the Cologne Boxing World Cup. The Technical Delegate of the competition Mr. Marko Marovic of Croatia and the Covid-19 manager are controlling all of the aspects of the competition.
The German Boxing Federation was planning to host the event earlier this year and re-scheduled it two-times in the recent months. The following nations are attending in the Cologne Boxing World Cup: Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine.
The bout of the day
France’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist and AIBA World Champion Sofiane Oumiha was expecting a hard fight against Netherlands’ European Games bronze medallist Enrico La Cruz in the semi-final of the lightweight (63kg). The Dutch boxer was patient and did not make any risks to go closer to his French opponent who followed his own game strategy. Following the tactical first round, Oumiha moved forward more in the second and landed more punches. The French boxer produced his best round in the third and defeated one of his main European rivals in Cologne.
The surprise of the day
Germany’s 21-year-old Leonie Mueller caused a surprise with her success against Denmark’s experienced Yvonne Baek Rasmussen on Day1. The German talent started the first round smartly against Ukraine’s Maria Sedaya and her counter-attacks were effective from safest distance. The new German welterweight (69kg) talent Leonie Mueller proved even better performance than in the first competition day and defeated her Ukrainian opponent in Cologne.
The Round-up
Germany’s best flyweight (51kg) boxer Ursula Gottlob ruled the middle of the ring against Ukraine’s Svetlana Vasylevska in the first round of their contest. The Ukrainian looked too nervous before the start of the contest but she tried to keep her focus in the ring. Gottlob had more attacks against the Ukrainian southpaw but Vasylevska has done a great finish in the end of the second round. Vasylevska did not give up the contest and gave in everything in the third but Gottlob worked also well enough to win their semi-final.
Two-time AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Nadine Apetz had excellent preparations in the recent weeks and she felt herself excellent returning to an international competition. The experienced German female boxer caught her Ukrainian opponent, Anna Lysenko in the first round with strong left-handed hooks. Germany’s welterweight (69kg) No.1 is only step away from the Olympic quota in the suspended European Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event and continued her winning path against the younger Ukrainian.
There is Round Robin competition form at the men’s flyweight (52kg) where France’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Billal Bennama tried to do better performance than in the first day when he was defeated by India’s star Amit Panghal. The 22-year-old French met with strong resistance in the second day when he faced with Germany’s Argishti Terteryan who impressed in the opening round. The German boxer had good defence also in the second but Bennama controlled already that period. The French star is a guaranteed Tokyo Olympian and in the third round he produced outstanding boxing to beat his younger German opponent.
Germany’s Kevin Boakye-Schumann trains in Schwerin with coach Mr. Michael Timm and developed rapidly in the recent two years. He had similar fighting style as his semi-final opponent, France’s Moreno Fendero therefore both boxers landed high number of punches. The 21-year-old French used tough hooks to in the second round and caught his German opponent who had still the potential to increase his rhythm in the third. Boakye-Schumann controlled the last round and his stamina delivered for him a place in the final where his opponent will be Netherlands’ Max Van der Pas.
Germany’s Ammar Abduljabbar was one of the main sensations in the last edition of the Cologne Boxing World Cup with his aggressive style of boxing. He had also strong successes in the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships and used his short distance tactic against France’s EUBC European Youth Champion Wilfried Florentin. Both heavyweight (91kg) boxers had the same fighting style and in that spectacular game the 19-year-old French was better due to the stronger physical skills. Florentin will be meeting in the final of the Cologne Boxing World Cup with Germany’s Jonathan Fischbuch who bowed out Belgium’s powerful Victor Schelstraete in the second semi-final.
Netherlands’ Nouchka Fontijn claimed silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and she is aiming for a gold in Tokyo next year. The European Games winner Dutch No.1 returned to the events in the Cologne Boxing World Cup and after the first round she found her best rhythm in the second against India’s Pooja Rani who qualified already to the next year’s Olympic Games at the middleweight (75kg). Fontijn controlled the exchanges and eliminated her Indian rival who was disqualified by the referee.
Germany’s lone boxer who qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games is Hamsat Shadalov who progressed rapidly in the recent two years. The German featherweight (57kg) boxer knew his Indian opponent, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mohamed Hussamuddin and used smart tactic in the first round. The 22-year-old German finally found his best weight category after plenty of changes and enjoyed his contest in Cologne. He landed also powerful punches against a world class Indian opponent and celebrated his success after the last gong.
France’s Samuel Kistohurry joined to the international events at the age of 15 and he reached his career highlight at the European Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event where he secured his place for the Tokyo Olympics. The 25-year-old French had difficulties in the first round against India’s Commonwealth Games winner Gaurav Solanki but he changed his rhythm in the second. Kistohurry’s tempo was impressive from the fourth minutes and he was able to turn back their hectic fight in Cologne.
Netherlands’ Artjom Kasparian dictated a fantastic tempo in the semi-final of the light heavyweight (81kg) against Germany’s Ben Ehis and his extremely high number of hooks delivered for him a place in the final where he will be meeting now with another local boxer, Ibragim Bazuev. Germany’s high hope at the super heavyweight (+91kg), European Games bronze medallist Nelvie Tiafack eliminated France’s Mourad Aliev in an excellent semi-final and will now face with India’s Satish Kumar in the final.
