Grigoryan, Shutov and Burdiuja won the most difficult categories at the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament
28 September 2021Impressive number of 165 male talents attended at the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament in Russia where 13 champions have been crowned. Russia’s EUBC European Junior Champion Mikhail Grigoryan and Danila Shutov won the most difficult weight classes in the event where Moldova’s Nicolae Burdiuja caused strong surprises.
Altogether 15 nations sent their youth talents to the Russian international youth tournament to increase the experiences of these young boxers. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan competed at the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament.
The Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament is a preparation event before the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships which is scheduled to be hosted in Budva, Montenegro on October 12-22. Boxers who were born in 2003 and 2004 were eligible to attend in the Basketball Hall in Krasnodar which is the official venue of the youth tournament. The Technical Delegate of the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament was Mr. Maxim Cherticovtsev of Moldova.
One of Europe’s best international event for the 17 and 18-year-old boxers, the new edition of the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament was held in Krasnodar. The previous editions of the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament were held in Anapa but the local organizers decided to move it to the city of Krasnodar.
The new youth weight categories have been introduced in the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament, boxers could fight for the medals at the 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63.5kg, 67kg, 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 86kg, 92kg and +92kg. The competition returned to the boxing map after two years of break due to the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus.
The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the health controls were the responsibility of the local organizers in Russia avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the new edition of the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament.
The bout of the finals
Russia’s EUBC European Junior Champion Mikhail Grigoryan moved up to the lightweight (60kg) this year and the 18-year-old boxer marched into the final in Krasnodar. Grigoryan eliminated Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Abdurakhim Yokubov, Scotland’s William Williamson and Ukraine’s Ivan Agapov during his road to the finals. Grigoryan faced for the title with his main national rival, EUBC European Youth Champion Aleksey Shendrik who both knew each other well enough from events of the recent three years. Grigoryan prepared with a different tactic against his taller and technician rival and his energetic boxing paid off in Krasnodar where he was able to do revenge.
The surprise of the finals
Moldova sent only one boxer to the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament but their lone young talent, Nicolae Burdiuja won the title of the super heavyweight (+91kg). The 18-year-old Moldovan boxer eliminated Russia’s Sergey Manzhuyev in the semi-finals of the heaviest weight category and marched to the final of the event. Burdiuja had to meet with the top favourite of the competition, Russia’s Evgeniy Zemliakov but the Moldovan defeated also his more experienced rival taking a gold medal in Krasnodar.
The Round-up
The men’s bantamweight (54kg) was a difficult category in the Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament. Russia’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Evgeniy Zhorov has been eliminated by Andrey Peglivanian in the semi-finals which was a surprise in the event. The 17-year-old Peglivanian was not in top shape in the final against his teammate, Russia’s Danila Shutov and suffered a loss in Krasnodar. Shutov had also strong international pedigree from the past and he won one of the toughest weight classes in the competition.
Russia’s EUBC European Junior Champion Magomed Mamayev eliminated tough opponents as Tajikistan’s Olimjon Orifzoda, Scotland’s Tyler Simpson and Uzbekistan’s Gofurjon Tokhirov during his road to the final of the light welterweight (63.5kg). The 18-year-old boxer met with another excellent hope of this weight class, the younger Boris Eroshkin but he managed to win that tactical job in Krasnodar.
The welterweight (67kg) title was won by Russia’s experienced national team member Aleksandr Zyrianov following his success over younger Andrey Pakhomov. The main favourite of the middleweight (75kg), EUBC European Junior Champion Akim Pavlyukov followed his impressive winning path during his career and defeated all of his three rivals in Krasnodar including his final opponent, Dmitriy Karmanov.
