Romania’s Cristina Cosma celebrated her second quick RSC success in Targu Jiu where the top 60 boxers remained in action
29 March 2018The winners in the fourth competition day are guaranteed medallists in the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships in Targu Jiu. Romania’s Cristina Cosma won her second contest by RSC in the first round which means the host nation’s strong pride marched to the final of the competition.
Twenty men quarter-final bouts and sixteen women semi-finals have been held in the fifth competition day of the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships in Targu Jiu, Romania today.
The top 40 men and 20 women remained in actions from the following 20 countries:
– Italy, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine: 6 boxers
– Georgia, Germany, Romania: 4 boxers
– Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland: 3 boxers
– Azerbaijan, England, France, Ireland, Spain: 2 boxers
– Armenia, Belarus, Hungary, Israel, Moldova: 1 boxer
Bulgaria’s Boyan Asenov is their two-time EUBC European Champion Daniel’s younger brother who proved strong development in the recent one year. The 19-year-old Bulgarian bantamweight (56kg) boxer overcame his Belarusian rival, Nikalai Shakh in the attacks and looked confident. Boyan Asenov had strong defence using his amazing footwork and he felt also the best counter-attacking moments against his elder rival. The Bulgarian boxer followed his brother Daniel and advanced to the semi-finals of the competition.
Romania’s defending EUBC European U22 Champion Robert Jitaru eliminated a top Irish opponent as first and following that he proved better performance in the opening minutes against Ruslan Belousov of Russia. The Romanian bantamweight (56kg) boxer launched several effective uppercuts in the first round but both talents raised their tempo in the second. Their contest was an early final in the event which was won by the 21-year-old Romanian who remained his chance to defend his throne.
Belarus’ AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dzmitry Asanau is one of the biggest names in the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships who controlled the first round against Turkey’s 19-year-old Necat Ekinci. The top Belarusian lightweight (60kg) boxer was technically better than his strong Turkish rival and controlled all of the three rounds in that quarter-final. The Rio 2016 Olympian Asanau advanced to the
Croatia’s Leo Cvetkovic was quarter-finalist in the St. Petersburg 2016 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and claimed several medals in the recent AOB events. The 19-year-old Croatian light heavyweight (81kg) boxer launched more punches than his Turkish opponent Genckan Mehmet Yagmur, and controlled the first round. Cvetkovic overcame his Turkish rival in the second and third rounds as well which was too much for Yagmur who was not in the same level today.
Croatia’s unbeaten WSB boxer Toni Filipi eliminated one of his main rivals as Romania’s defending EUBC European U22 Champion Paul Andrei Aradoaie and England’s Lewis Williams. The Croatian heavyweight (91kg) boxer used his strength to keep the best fighting distance against Turkey’s young talent Berat Acar and he was able to win his third contest in Targu Jiu. Filipi’s triumph means Croatia achieved three guaranteed medals in the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships.
Russia’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist and EUBC European Youth Champion Muslim Gadzhimagomedov moved up to the heavyweight (91kg) in the recent months but his skills are enough to fight as a favourite against anyone in the continent. The 20-year-old Russian star was quicker than Georgia’s EUBC European Youth Champion Nikoloz Begadze and his efforts delivered for him a place in the semi-finals.
Romania’s top woman boxer in this age group Cristina Cosma competed six international competitions in the recent seven months and her strong preparation was paid off in Targu Jiu. She stopped Bulgaria’s two years younger Plamena Ivanova in the quarter-final and the 21-year-old Romanian featherweight (57kg) boxer also did not give any chance to Hungary’s Flora Tar in their semi-final. Cosma launched lethal punches once again and the referee stopped their unequal contest in the first round.
Italy’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion and Rio 2016 Olympian Irma Testa moved down to the featherweight (57kg) in the recent months which was her best category in the recent years. The 20-year-old Italian was quick and felt the fighting distance from the first seconds against Turkey’s Urguya Us. The taller Italian was technically better than her Turkish rival and marched to the final of the competition.
Italy’s Rebecca Nicoli is a native talent in our sport who began boxing only in 2015 but quickly adopted the level of the sport. The Italian light welterweight (64kg) boxer eliminated Lithuania’s Austeja Auciute in the quarter-final and started strongly against Poland’s Natalia Barbusinska. The 18-year-old super talented Italian worked hard in the whole contest and deserved her success in the semi-final winning it by unanimous decision.
