Monaco writes history in the second day of the European Games where Ireland’s Michael Nevin won the best fight of the session
26 June 2019The second competition day of the European Games, which is the annual EUBC European Elite Boxing Championships, saw tough fights in Minsk. Ireland’s Michael Nevin eliminated a key opponent England’s Mark Dickinson at the middleweight (75kg) while Monaco achieved its first ever victory in the history of the European elite events.
Altogether 317 boxers including 59 women are attending in the European Games from record number of 44 nations in Minsk, Belarus. The following nations are taking part in the European Games: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Great-Britain, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.
The bout of the day
Ireland’s Michael Nevin claimed the gold medal at the 2015 EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Kolobrzeg but since that competition he was not able to repeat that performance among the elite boxers. Nevin had to meet with England’s new sensation Mark Dickinson who earned also gold medal in a previous EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships two years ago. The English middleweight (75kg) boxer tried to pressurize his Irish opponent from the first seconds but Nevin was able to keep that rhythm and avoided the most dangerous situations. The Irish boxer looked smart from the second round and his well-built strategy delivered to him a superb success eliminating a secret favourite in Minsk.
Surprise of the day
Adem Fetahovic was born in Germany but he has been fighting for his homeland Bosnia & Herzegovina in the international competitions. The 24-year-old Bosnian welterweight (69kg) boxer had to meet with Germany’s strong Magomed Schachidov in the last 32. Both boxers made that fight to a spectacular one and their bout was one of the closest ones in the second competition day. Fetahovic’s stamina was excellent in their tight contest which he won by split decision against the German favourite.
The Round-Up
Belarus’ best boxer Dzmitry Asanau claimed bronze medal at the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships at the age of 19. Since then he moved up to the lightweight (60kg) and defeated all of his key rivals during his preparation to the European Games. The Belarusian No.1 started his campaign against Slovakia’s Viliam Tanko and he bowed out his rival out of the way.
Great Britain’s Pat McCormack is the main gold medal contender of the welterweight (69kg) which is one of the most popular categories with the participation of 33 boxers in Minsk. McCormack had to meet as first with Hungary’s Laszlo Kozak who eliminated Romania’s Marian Pita on Day1. The Hungarian was not enough fresh after his first tight contest and McCormack looked confident in the bout which he won by unanimous decision.
Monaco’s lone boxer in Minsk Hugo Micallef has got historical participation in the European Games. Micallef prepared well to the start of the event and had tough sparring matches against top opponents. His hard work paid off in the ring on the second competition day in the European Games when he met with Slovakia’s Tomas Zold. Micallef controlled their welterweight (69kg) contest and celebrated Monaco’s first ever success in an elite continental event.
Ukraine’s AIBA World Champion and the defending EUBC European Champion Oleksandr Khyzhniak returned to the world of boxing after a short break and arrived to the venue of the European Games as the main favourite of the middleweight (75kg). Ukraine’s No.1 had to meet for the last 16 with Finland’s Muhammad Abdilrasoon and his powerful attacks was too strong for his younger opponent.
Czech Republic’s Milos Bartl is a promising boxer at the middleweight (75kg) who delivered a classical KO success over Poland’s Rafal Perczynski. Bartl’s knockout was an unexpected action from the Czech boy which amazed the crowd in Minsk. Netherlands’ Max Van der Pas is among the medal contenders of the middleweight (75kg) in Minsk who dominated his opening fight against North Macedonia’s Arsin Etemi.
Switzerland’s best male boxer FISU University World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Uke Smajli used his experiences to beat Georgia’s young Giorgi Manjavidze in a top match of the light heavyweight (81kg). One of the main gold medal contenders of this division Great Britain’s Benjamin Whittaker controlled his fight against Poland’s Mateusz Goinski using his virtuoso technique.
