Russia dominated the semi-finals of the Golden Gloves Tournament in Nis

The third competition day has finished in the 61st edition of the Golden Gloves Tournament and the final line-ups are revealed. The Russian boxers dominated the semi-finals of the Golden Gloves which is one of the last European international tournaments in 2018 which is taking place in the city of Nis, Serbia.

The competition was launched in the end of the ’50s and saw several big champions in the recent decades, AIBA World Champions and Olympic medallists such as Croatia’s Mate Parlov, Uzbekistan’s Rufat Riskiyev, Kazakhstan’s Serik Konakbayev, Bulgaria’s Detelin Dalakliev and Russia’s David Ayrapetyan.  

The 2016 edition of the Golden Gloves Tournament was held in a small town in Vrnjacka Banja and following that the capital city Belgrade hosted the event one year ago. The Serbian Boxing Federation decided to move the competition to the city of Nis where an AIBA 3-star Referee & Judge Course is also holding. Besides to the European countries Morocco and Seychelles joined from the African Confederation to attend in the Golden Gloves Tournament in Nis.

Serbia’s Mediterranean Games bronze medallist and Bosnia & Herzegovina International Cup winner Dusan Janjic eliminated France’s Youness Khater in the semi-final of the flyweight (52kg) with his quick attacks. The young Serbian will be facing for the title with Morocco’s Yassine Bendadda who eliminated Russia’s Viktor Kuldoshin.

Russia’s Shamil Askerov claimed gold medal at the 2017 EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships in Braila, Romania and the 23-year-old boxer was confident in Nis as well. Askerov controlled his fight against Slovenia’s Tadej Cernoga and will be meeting for the title with Russia’s Arshak Tovmasyan who was too strong for Seychelles’ Fabio Roselie in the second semi-final of the lightweight (60kg).

Norway’s best elite boxer Hadi Srour used his longer reach successfully against Bulgaria’s Ivan Atanasov in the semi-final of the light welterweight (64kg). The 18-year-old Bulgarian attended in the Adem Jashari Memorial Tournament a few days ago where he claimed the gold medal as well. The Norwegian will be meeting for the title with Morocco’s WSB hope Abdelhaq Nadir who eliminated Moldova’s powerful Mihail Cvasiuc and Seychelles’ Edrian Volcere during his road to the final.

Russia’s new teenage talent Ivan Stupin dominated his semi-final over Serbia’s Petar Stosic which was a sensational performance from the 18-year-old hope. Stupinwill be meeting with his compatriot for the gold of the welterweight (69kg) Yuriy Osipov who eliminated Morocco’s young athlete Zine Elabidine Amroug.

Russia’s Rasul Aliyev was involved to their WSB team in Season VIII therefore his strength was enough to beat Norway’s Lithuanian-descent Mindaugas Gedminas in the semi-finals. Aliyev will be facing with his teammate Dmitriy Grinkov who eliminated Serbia’s 19-year-old Luka Sumarac in a hectic bout. Moldova’s lone finalist will be Dmitrii Casciuc who defeated Bulgaria’s Ivan Mechkov in the semi-final of the heavyweight (91kg). His next bout will be held against Russia’s Aleksei Zobnin who used the best fighting distance against Morocco’s Youness Baala in Nis.