Rubenyan, Sajaia, Lijesevic and Martinez proved amazing developments at the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships

The longest sessions were held in the fourth competition day at the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships in Budva, Montenegro where altogether 48 preliminary bouts concluded. All of the winners advanced to the quarter-finals when Suren Rubenyan, Giorgi Sajaia, Damjan Lijesevic and Frank Martinez proved their amazing progress.

Men boxers at the bantamweight (54kg), featherweight (57kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (63.5kg), welterweight (67kg) and light middleweight (71kg) competed for the quarter-finals on Day4. 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

Russia’s Aleksey Shendrik won the title at the Budva 2020 EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships and returned to Montenegro to defend his throne but this time at the lightweight (60kg). The 18-year-old Russian has got excellent technical skills and works mostly from longer range but he met with a same style opponent on Day4, Denmark’s No.1, Elias Idrissi. The Danish boxer has got also more than four years of international experiences and he landed strong punches in the opening round. Shendrik found his best tempo still in time to beat the energetic Danish who is also a top future hope in our sport.

The surprise of the day

Moldova’s Mihail Taranu was silver medallist in the last edition of the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships. The 18-year-old boxer returned to Montenegro and moved up to the bantamweight (54kg) but he could not maintain the best fighting distance against Armenia’s Suren Rubenyan. The Armenian boxer gained the control against the well-experienced rival and eliminated one of the favourites in Budva.

The Round-up

Spain’s Juan Pantoja claimed bronze medal at the Budva 2020 EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships and the 18-year-old talent needs only one more step to reach the same result in Montenegro. The Spaniard eliminated a Hungarian boxer in the first preliminary round and he continued his winning path in the next stage of boxing against Croatia’s Tomislav Letinic. The Croatian has got good technical skills but Pantoja was almost untouchable for him in their meeting therefore the Spanish won his second bantamweight (54kg) contest in the championship.

Georgia’s EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Giorgi Sajaia was highly confident in his second contest at the bantamweight (54kg) and eliminated a top Russian boxer, Danila Shutov with remarkable performance. His teammate, Luka Nikabadze had also tough job against Latvia’s Nikita Gorbunovs but he had the skills and previous experiences to eliminated his Baltic rival at the welterweight (67kg).

EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Aider Abduraimov joined to the youth age group only this January but the 17-year-old boxer is a favourite at the bantamweight (54kg). Abduraimov controlled all of the three rounds against Latvia’s Kristaps Leinieks and advanced to the quarter-finals in Budva. His AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships teammate Bozorboy Matyakubov had a strong rival but he eliminated Turkey’s Bilge Kaan Kanli at the welterweight (67kg).

Bulgaria’s Radoslav Rosenov returned to Budva as titleholder and he claimed bronze medal also at the Kielce 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The Bulgarian lightweight (60kg) star had a tough opponent in the last 16, Ukraine’s Danylo Dryzhak who won the gold medal at the 2019 EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships. Rosenov prepared to their battle with strong strategy and he was able to follow all of these tactical pathways to beat an experienced rival.

Montenegro’s Damjan Lijesevic is a 17-year-old talent who is one of the best prospects of the host country’s team. The local welterweight (67kg) boxer advanced to the quarter-finals in Budva after beating Slovakia’s Adolf Stanek. Denmark’s Victor Kruse Hoveling also marched to the last eight following his success over Israel’s Mohammad Issa while Spain’s 18-year-old Frank Martinez had an amazing triumph over Armenia’s Narek Zakharyan in the same welterweight (67kg).