Historical women’s success for Montenegro – Bojana Gojkovic advanced to the finals of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships
15 October 2018The semi-finals are almost always the best part in each competition and our young talents proved that in the sixth competition day of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Anapa, Russia. The winners advanced to the finals and remained their chance alive to win the whole competition in the continental event.
Anapa hosted the event previously in 2013 and in 2014 and after four years the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships returned to the Russian city. This new edition of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships is the first ever competition when the women and the men boxers can attend together within one event.
Turkey’s Junior National Champion Gamze Soguksu was the favourite against Ireland’s Brenda Marie Quilligan in the semi-final of the pinweight (46kg) and she performed her very best in the right time. The Turkish boxer felt the tempo and landed clear punches in the first round but she was able to raise her rhythm in the second which was uncomfortable for the Irish Junior Champion. The referee counted the Irish hope in the third round and raised Soguksu’s hand after the final bell.
Montenegro’s best female talent Bojana Gojkovic is only 15 but she is one of the most experienced junior boxers in the whole continent with several international tournament titles. Gojkovic, who trains with coach Nikola Ruzic, moved ahead and caught her Latvian opponent Viktorija Silke with nice shots. Gojkovic’s hooks for dangerous for the Latvian and she controlled all of the rounds in Anapa which means Montenegro’s No.1 remained her chance alive to win the women’s flyweight (50kg).
Ireland’s Golden Girl Box Cup winner Lauren Dempsey jumped into the best fighting distance and reduced her height disadvantage successfully in her semi-final against Slovakia’s last remained boxer in Anapa, Michaela Turacova. The Irish featherweight (57kg) boxer was quicker than her Slovakian opponent and advanced to the gold medal bout. Dempsey will be meeting in the final with Russia’s Azalia Amineva for the title of the event.
England’s Danielle Marshall lost to Ireland’s Sinainn Glynn in a dual match one month before the start of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships therefore she was planning to do revenge in their semi-final of the lightweight (60kg) in Anapa. The English talent tried to use her longer hands against Glynn but received plenty of shots from close distance. The little Irish powerhouse absolutely gave in everything and repeated her performance and the result was the same as in their first meeting in September.
Bulgaria’s EUBC European Confederation Schoolboys Boxing Championships silver medallist Radoslav Rosenov eliminated Hungary’s Balint Kapuvari in the quarter-finals and tried to keep his same level in the last four. The 15-year-old Bulgarian pinweight (46kg) boxer used his own tempo against Serbia’s Omer Ajetovic and overcame his rival in the attacks during their exchanges. Rosenov was impressive in their contest and marched into the final of the category where his last rival will be Russia’s Mikhail Grigoryan.
Azerbaijan’s 16-year-old Ali Zamanov won several international events including the Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup this year. The light flyweight (48kg) boxer kept the best fighting distance against Moldova’s Ivan Taranu in their semi-final in Anapa. The Azeri southpaw was too quick and too energetic for the Moldovan boxer therefore Zamanov advanced to the final of the weight category.
Denmark’s EUBC European Confederation Schoolboys Boxing Championships bronze medallist Elias Idrissi impressed in the last round against Armenia’s Ruslan Aslikyan. The 15-year-olf Danish talent just moved up to the flyweight (50kg) in the recent weeks but he was enough strong to keep the level against a world class boxer Georgia’s Luka Nikabadze. The Danish boxer has done a great finish in the end of the second round but Nikabadze was smarter today and won their close semi-final with his tactical skills.
Ireland’s Jon Alexander McConnell eliminated the main favourite Russia’s two-time EUBC European Schoolboys Champion Evgeny Zhorov in the preliminary round of the light bantamweight (52kg). The Irish talent used his longer reach against Serbia’s Semiz Alicic in the first round and he looked confident in the bout. The Serbian boxer approved the level of this contest and surprisingly he was able to eliminate his tough Irish opponent which means Alicic will be meeting for the gold medal with Bulgaria’s Yasen Radev.
England’s Adam Azim has started his boxing career at the age of 6 and after 10 years of experiences in our sport, the 16-year-old talent is a favourite in Anapa. The English lightweight (60kg) boxer, whose elder brother Hassan won his first match in the Youth Olympic Games yesterday, used his jabs to keep the distance against Hungary’s 15-year-old Ferenc Peter Samu. Adam continued his brother’s pathway and won his semi-final with superb performance and will be meeting for the title with Georgia’s Giorgi Gegetchkori.
Bulgaria’s William Cholov won the gold medal at the EUBC European Confederation Schoolboys Boxing Championships in 2017 and the native talent joined to the junior level this January. The 15-year-old Bulgarian welterweight (66kg) talent eliminated Armenia’s Narek Zakharyan in the semi-final and he will be facing for the gold medal with Russia’s Junior National Champion Igor Kuznetsov.
Hungary’s ISF Gymnasiade winner Hunor Levente Kiss arrived to Anapa as one of the favourites of the heavyweight (+80kg). Following his RSC and KO successes he had a harder job against Azerbaijan’s Ahmad Ahmadov but he landed more punches after the tactical first round than his Caucasian opponent. The 16-year-old Hungarian caught his quick Azeri rival a few times with hard punches which decided their contest. Ahmadov organized his defence well but in the attacks he was not enough strong therefore Kiss advanced to the final of the weight class.
