Olympic Hopes Junior Tournament: AIBA recap and results
05 September 2014
Czech Cup Tournament 2014
The Olympic Hopes Junior Tournament was held in the city of Usti nad Labem in the Czech Republic, where boxers born in 1998 and in 1999 were eligible to compete.
This event was necessary preparation prior to the EUBC European Junior Continental Championships which are scheduled to take place in Anapa, Russia in November.
He then claimed a silver medal at the Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan in May where he was named as the best boxer of the tournament.
Szaka defeated his main rival, Czech Republic’s 15-year-old Artur Sachbazjan in the quarter-finals, which was one of the best bouts of the tournament.
Following his recent good form, Szaka defeated all of his rivals and won the gold medal in Usti nad Labem.
Szaka, whose boxing idol is Naseem Hamed, has gold medal expectations for the upcoming EUBC European Junior Continental Championships.
Besides Istvan Szaka, three of his teammates topped their weight classes in the Czech Republic.
Szilveszter Kanalas defeated Russia’s Igor Malovichko in the final of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) which was their first gold medal.
Krisztofer Berki put himself into the spotlight when he defeated the best Indian junior boxer in the AIBA Junior World Championships in Kiev one year ago, and he regained his place in the junior national squad.
The Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer, who trains in the club of KSI, bagged Hungary’s next gold medal after beating Czech Republic’s Michal Chludil in the final.
Laszlo Kozak secured their fourth gold medal at the Light Middleweight class (70 kg) where he was too strong for Poland’s Damian Taudul.
Slovakia’s strong David Michalek is another junior athlete who needs to be watched in the future.
The Heavyweight class (+80 kg) boxer stopped Hungary’s Norbert Komor in the second round of their final and claimed a gold for his country.
48 kg: Szilveszter Kanalas, Hungary 52 kg: Istvan Szaka, Hungary
57 kg: Filip Meszaros, Slovakia 60 kg: Krisztofer Berki, Hungary
63 kg: David Kotrc, Czech Republic 66 kg: Michal Bartunek, Czech Republic 70 kg: Laszlo Kozak, Hungary 75 kg: Martin Kubat, Czech Republic 80 kg: Jiri Havel, Czech Republic +80 kg: David Michalek, Slovakia
