Jitaru and Asenov defended their thrones in the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships

Romania’s Robert Jitaru and Bulgaria’s Daniel Asenov both defended their thrones in the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships in Targu Jiu where the competition finished with 20 exciting finals. Belarus, Bulgaria, England, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine claimed the gold medals in the U22 continental event.

Romania’s Cristina Cosma amazed in the previous two rounds in Targu Jiu where she stopped both opponents in the first minutes. Romania’s woman No.1 in the U22 age group had to meet in the first final with Italy’s Rio 2016 Olympian Irma Testa who is Europe’s top boxer at the featherweight (57kg). The Romanian talent moved ahead in the first round but Testa’s counter-attacks were successful in the opening minutes. The 20-year-old Italian continued her long range tactic in the second and dominated also the third therefore she was able to win the first ever historical gold medal in the first ever female final of the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships.

Hungary’s two-time EUBC European Confederation Women’s Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist 18-year-old Adrienn Juhasz attacked from the first seconds against Romania’s Alina Gabriela Ene in the women’s heavyweight (+81kg) final. The Romanian teenager tried to move away from the Hungarian punches using her footwork but Juhasz had the weight advantage. The Hungarian boxer dominated their final fight and won her first gold medal by unanimous decision.

Georgia’s EUBC European Youth Champion and EUBC European Junior Champion Sakhil Allakhverdovi knocked out his German opponent Omar Salah Ibrahim in his semi-final and met for the gold with Russia’s Islam Abumuslimov. The 19-year-old Georgian light flyweight (49kg) boxer was fast in the first round for the Russian and following that their second period delivered high number of exchanges. Abumuslimov launched better punches in the third round and won their narrow final which gold medal means a career highlight for the Russian.

Romania’s defending EUBC European U22 Champion Robert Jitaru eliminated a top Irish opponent, Ruslan Belousov of Russia and Bulgaria’s Boyan Asenov during his road to the finals. The Romanian bantamweight (56kg) boxer was significantly better from bouts to bouts and he delivered his very best in the final of the competition. Jitaru moved ahead and showed motivated boxing against Azerbaijan’s Baku 2015 European Games bronze medallist Tayfur Aliyev. The Romanian star defended his throne with top performance and celebrated his second U22 gold medal which was one of the most emotional moments in the day of the finals.

Turkey’s Elif Delismen exceeded the expectations in the whole EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships with her strong performance and she tried to find the weak points of her final opponent, Ukraine’s Yulia Demianenko. The first round of their light flyweight (48kg) final was close but the Turkish talent launched several uppercuts in the second and she was able to win their narrow fight in Targu Jiu.

England’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Ebonie Jones is only 19 but she is well experienced boxer in the international level. The English bantamweight (54kg) boxer knew how she can beat Poland’s National Elite Champion Anna Goralska and she followed her coaches’ instructions. England’s new sensation controlled all of the rounds in her final and deserved the title of her category.

Russia’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Muslim Gadzhimagomedov moved up to the heavyweight (91kg) only in the recent months. The 20-year-old Russian eliminated Georgia’s EUBC European Youth Champion Nikoloz Begadze and Armenia’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medallist Narek Manasyan during his road to the finals. The Russian boxer had longer hands than Ukraine’s Serhii Horskov and his strategy was built up to use his range, furthermore he was also better in the close exchanges. Gadzhimagomedov dominated their fight and following his last year’s silver in the U22 continental event, he claimed gold in Targu Jiu.

Ireland’s EUBC European Women’s Youth Champion Amy Broadhurst had to meet in the final of the women’s lightweight (60kg) with Italy’s Francesca Martusciello. The Irish boxer was experienced in the international events and launched tough right-handed hooks but her younger Italian rival had also good shots in the second round. Broadhurst turned up the heat and she gave in everything in the third round which was the difference between them and caused Ireland’s first gold medal in Targu Jiu.

Italy’s Rebecca Nicoli began her boxing career in 2015 but three years in our sport was enough for the 18-year-old talent to reach the level of the best boxers at the light welterweight (64kg). The Italian youngster was motivated and moved ahead against Turkey’s Sema Caliskan and following the tactical first round she launched her best combinations in the second. Nicoli was better also than her Turkish rival in the third and celebrated her gold medal as one of the youngest winners of the competition.

Bulgaria’s two-time EUBC European Champion Daniel Asenov was the titleholder at the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships and he had to meet with Spain’s Gabriel Escobar once again after the 2017 edition. Both boxers were waited for the best attacking moments in the first round and used their excellent footwork in the opening minutes. The Spanish boxer used the same tactic as Asenov and tried to beat the Bulgarian in his own game. The 21-year-old Bulgarian had great second round and in spite of all efforts of the Spanish boxer Asenov was able to defend his throne at the flyweight (52kg).

Belarus’ AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dzmitry Asanau dominated his previous contests at the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships in Targu Jiu and he met in the final of the lightweight (60kg) with Russia’s Albert Batyrgaziev. The top Belarusian boxer used his counter-attacking style against the forwarding Russian National Champion. Asanau had an excellent tactical change in the second round and his hooks worked well enough to beat his tough Russian opponent.

Croatia’s new sensation Marko Milun and Italy’s EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships bronze medallist Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine advanced to the final of the super heavyweight (+91kg) in Targu Jiu. In the battle of the southpaw boxers the Croatian launched the stronger punches and caught the Italian youngster with tough hooks in the second. The Italian impressed with his fast punches in the third and won the last title of the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships.