Pantoja, Aragon, Richol, Jurcenoks, Bachelet and Ghayenian are among the winners at the Boxam Youth & Junior Tournament on Day2

The Spanish Boxing Federation’s traditional Boxam Youth & Junior Tournament began in Crevillent, Alicante region this week. Spain’s Jose Pantoja Moreno and Belgium’s Vasken Ghayenian won their second contests within two competition days in the event. Spain’s Luna Mairena Aragon, Latvia’s Ilja Jurcenoks and France’s duo as Maelys Richol and Cyndelle Bachelet are impressed on Day2.

The following 13 nations are attending in the Boxam Youth & Junior Tournament: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, EUBC Team, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and Wales. Altogether 90 boxers could arrive to the competition and 64 bouts will be held in the upcoming days in 12 junior and 14 youth weight categories.

Boxers who were born in 2003 and in 2004 are eligible to attend in the youth part of the competition in Crevillent. The 2005 and 2006 born talents can attend in the junior age group in this international tournament. The Technical Delegate of the Boxam Youth & Junior Tournament is Mrs. Susanne Karrlander of Sweden.

The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the health controls are the responsibility of the local organizers in Spain to avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the new edition of the Boxam Youth & Junior Tournament.  

The bout of the day

Wales’ Zoe Andrews was bronze medallist at the 2019 EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships in Galati. The Welsh talent returned to the international events a few months ago and she had a final-level bout on Day2 against Spain’s Luna Mairena Aragon. Her Spanish opponent is also well-experienced in the international stage and she competed in more events than Andrews during the pandemic period. Mairena was sharp in this tough bantamweight (54kg) contest and performed well in the first round. The Welsh girl was better step by step in this impressive bout but the Spaniard had enough advantage to win their contest which was the closest one on Day2.

The surprise of the day

Croatia’s Mateo Pejic achieved silver medal at the 2019 EUBC Schoolboys European Boxing Championships and he is currently the best junior boxer in his nation. The 16-year-old Croatian light heavyweight (80kg) boxer had an experienced rival today, Latvia’s Ilja Jurcenoks who won also several contests during his international appearances. His teammate, Sarovs was eliminated by a tough Ukrainian but Jurcenoks proved his potential today. Jurcenoks landed more punches and the he had the advantage on the scorecards after two rounds while the Croatian was disqualified by the referee after the third warnings.

The Round-up

France’s Maelys Richol is a newcomer in the international stage but she spent a very short time in the ring today at the women’s junior welterweight (66kg). The French talent was taller than Spain’s Emma Lozano and she moved forward immediately despite of her height advantage. Richol shocked the local girl in the first exchanges and proved that knows more about all levels of boxing. The referee counted the Spanish girl in the first minute and stopped their unequal contest to save Lozano’s health.

Spain’s Jose Pantoja Moreno opened his campaign with a success on Day1 and he tries to follow his older brother’s pathway. He met as second in the Boxam Tournament with Switzerland’s 16-year-old Marwan Maslard who is their best junior talent who had already 35 contests during his career. The Swiss started the bout aggressively but the younger Pantoja tried to keep the best distance and he was a hard target in their lightweight (60kg) contest. The taller Spanish used the right tactic against his attacking opponent and won his second contest in Crevillent advancing to the final.

Italy’s Dario Delle Curti is a 16-year-old talent who had 21 contests during his career but he never boxed out of his country yet. He is the current Italian Junior National Champion at the lightweight (60kg) who started his campaign in the event against Spain’s Daniel Rodriguez. The Italian increased his tempo in the second round and he landed strong combinations therefore the referee counted Rodriguez in that period. Delle Curti was better than Rodriguez today and won their contest by referee stopped the contest in the third round.

Latvia’s Renats Sarovs is 16 but he competed already in three editions of the EUBC European Boxing Championships as schoolboy and junior. The Latvian dominated his first contest in the Boxam Junior Tournament on Day1 and he tried to do stronger rhythm in his second bout. His opponent was Ukraine’s Montenegro Junior Cup silver medallist Oleh Sapizhak who moved ahead and used his faster combinations in their contest. Sarovs received two warnings from the referee, he was able to fight until the last bell but Sapizhak stopped his march in Crevillent.

Belgium’s Vasken Ghayenian attended in the EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships in Tbilisi this July and he won his opening contest in the Boxam Junior Tournament yesterday. The Belgian talent proved higher rhythm in the first round against Spain’s Yeray Merchan in comparison to his contest on Day1. Ghayenian landed a lot of right-handed jabs in the first and second rounds which stopped most of the Spanish attacks. The young Belgian landed strong shots in the second and third rounds and his better performance delivered for him a place in the final of the junior light welterweight (63kg).

France’s Cyndelle Bachelet lives and trains in Rouen and arrived to the Boxam Youth Tournament to show her impressive developments. The Junior National Championships silver medallist girl is experienced at the bantamweight (54kg) and she dominated the first exchanges immediately against Spain’s Irene Sanchez. The local girl survived the most dangerous moments in the first seconds and then she tried to adopt the rhythm. Bachelet had better footwork in their contest and controlled also the second round but Sanchez had strong fighting spirit to box against the last gong. The final verdict was unanimous decision in the favour of the French girl who returned to the international competitions.

The quote of the day

“I did not box since long time and it was not my best performance but I am happy that I could come back to the ring. I had feet injuries and Covid-19 did not support my preparation. I almost decided the contest immediately but at least I could feel a new and longer ring experience today. I had only 20 contests in the past but I hope I can increase this figure in the upcoming events,” said France’s women’s youth talent Cyndelle Bachelet after her contest.