Masalau and Davydau won key quarter-final contests for the Belarusians in Budva

The men’s quarter-finals were held in the sixth competition day at the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships in Budva, Montenegro. Following the women’s medallists, all of the men’s medallists are revealed in Budva where Moldova, Belarus, Spain and several nations boxed over their previous levels.

All of the 13 men’s weight categories from the minimumweight (48kg) up to the super heavyweight (+91kg) were in actions in the sixth day of boxing in Budva. The EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships is live streamed in the EUBC website as all of the previous competitions in 2021.

Boxers who were born in 2003 and in 2004 are eligible to attend in the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships in Budva. The event will be introduced also the new youth weight categories, the girls can attend in 12 while the boys in 13 different weight classes in Montenegro. The Technical Delegate of the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships is Mrs. Susanne Karrlander of Sweden.

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine are competing in the event in Budva.

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 Montenegro avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships.

The bout of the day

Belarus’ top youth boxer Uladzislau Smolouski lost his tight quarter-final in the sixth competition day but his teammates not only saved the day but caused surprises as well. Andrei Masalau moved up to the new cruiserweight (86kg) and he had strong performance in Budva but he faced with Russia’s Egor Plotsyn in the last eight. The Belarusian boxer opened the first round in excellent rhythm and he tried to find the Russian talent’s weak points. Plotsyn had several tough battles during his career but Masalau’s stamina and strong mind to win this important quarter-final was decisive between them in Budva.

The surprises of the day

Russia’s EUBC European Junior Champion Magomed Mamayev moved up to the light welterweight (63.5kg) and arrived to Budva as the gold medal contender of the category. The 18-year-old Russian had hard road to the national team, he had to beat tough opponents in his homeland therefore Mamayev was confident in Budva. He met with Georgia’s Lasha Gagnidze in the last eight and his Caucasian opponent shocked him in the first round. Gagnidze is also an experienced boxer but he delivered his best ever performance in their quarter-final which means the Georgian became the guaranteed medallist in Budva.

Belarus’s Matsvei Davydau competed in several junior and youth tournaments in the recent years but he was not the favourite against Bulgaria’s EUBC European Junior Champion Krasimir Dzhurov in another crucial light welterweight (63.5kg) quarter-final. The Belarusian coaches knew the Bulgarian well enough and built up a strategy against the favourite of the weight class. Davydau had several difficulties in the exchanges, he had to box over any of his previous level but the Belarusian won the bout by split decision causing another sensation in Budva.

The Round-up

Spain’s EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships silver medallist Rafael Lozano Serrano is an impressive 17-year-old talent who won international youth tournaments this year. The Spaniard eliminated a tough Armenian at the preliminary stage of the minimumweight (48kg) and met with Turkey’s Ozbay Ozkan in the quarter-finals. Lozano, whose coach father is two-time Olympic medallist, controlled all of the three rounds and marched to the last four where he will now meet with Moldova’s Dumitru Vieru.

Moldova’s EUBC European Junior Champion Ilie Argatu joined to the youth age group this January and won their national events immediately. The 17-year-old Moldovan talent is one of the favourites at the flyweight (51kg) and he opened his first round with impressive performance against Finland’s Artturi Pechuev. His Northern European rival had strong punches and good stamina to be competitive with Argatu but the Moldovan had all of the skills to advance to the last four where he will be boxing with Armenia’s Henrik Sahakyan.

Bulgaria’s sensation Radoslav Rosenov arrived to Budva as titleholder of the lightweight (60kg) and proved top performance once again. The 18-year-old Bulgarian, who claimed bronze medal at the Kielce 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships, felt the tempo against Georgia’s Saba Tkebuchava and he was able to share his power well enough until the final gong. Rosenov advanced to the semi-finals while his main rival, Russia’s EUBC European Youth Champion Aleksey Shendrik also marched to the last four.

Rosenov’s teammate William Cholov is another tough Bulgarian weapon for the future who expected a hard battle against Croatia’s experienced Antonio Grabic in their middleweight (75kg) quarter-final. The Croatian youth No.1 had a brave attempt to beat the two-time EUBC European Junior Champion Bulgarian and made a lot of risk in their meeting. Cholov took the lead on the scorecards after three minutes therefore Grabic attacked more in the second which was perfect for the technician Bulgarian. Cholov proved not only his excellent technical skills but he knocked out the Croatian in the second round.

You can follow the Day7 semi-finals actions LIVE from the EUBC Youth
European Boxing Championships Budva 2021 here:
Day7, Session23, Ring A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfrXi7ovFE
Day7, Session24, Ring B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMA1zFZ7XsU