Russia’s AIBA World Champions Bakshi and Gadzhimagomedov dominated their opening fights at the Zagreb Grand Prix
09 October 2020The second edition of the Zagreb Grand Prix started in the Croatian capital with its opening two sessions. Russia’s current AIBA World Champions as Gleb Bakshi and Muslim Gadzhimagomedov both won their contests in the first competition day. Sweden’s top female boxer Agnes Alexiusson also returned to the international events in Zagreb.
Among the boxing powers, Russia, Ukraine, France, Italy, Sweden, Poland and host Croatia compete in the Zagreb Grand Prix with strong delegations. Boxers attend from four different Confederations in the Zagreb Grand Prix and unique nations such as Chile, DR Congo, Syria and Afghanistan are also strengthening the competition. The Technical Delegate of the 2nd Zagreb Grand Prix is Mr. Maxim Cherticovtsev of Moldova.
The 2nd Zagreb Grand Prix is a money prize competition once again after the first edition which took place in 2019. The gold, the silver and bronze medallists will be awarded also cash in euros after the day of the finals.
All of the expenses related to accommodation, meals and local transportation are the responsibility of the Local Croatian Organizing Committee. The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the controls are the responsibility of the local organizers in Croatia.
Bout of the day
Following her AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships title, Sweden’s Agnes Alexiusson reached the first elite medal at the Alcobendas 2019 EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships. The Swedish lightweight (60kg) boxer met in the opening day against Kosovo’s best female boxer Donjeta Sadiku who won the 2017 EUBC European Women’s Youth Boxing Championships. Alexiusson was not in top shape yet but she tried to keep her opponent long while Sadiku attacked successfully a few times. Alexiusson had the technical and tactical advantages to beat her 21-year-old Kosovan rival on Day1.
The surprises of the day
Valentina Bustamante competed for Italy in smaller international tournaments in the recent years but switched to Chile to get her chance to qualify for the Olympic Games. The female lightweight (60kg) boxer was not a favourite against Russia’s Aleksandra Zhuravleva but her fighting spirit delivered for her a success in Zagreb. Kosovo’s young talent Besart Pireva caused the second surprise of the opening day when he eliminated France’s Raphael Monny at the men’s light heavyweight (81kg).
The Round-up
Ukraine’s Yaroslav Khartsyz was involved to their national team in 2017 when he claimed silver medal at the EUBC European U22 Boxing Championships. His development is continuous and he needs only one further step to be qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games through the European Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event. The 23-year-old Ukrainian won the first bout of the whole Zagreb Grand Prix following he controlled all of the rounds against Sweden’s Ibrahim Bakhtiari.
Russia’s Gleb Bakshi is the defending AIBA World Champion at the middleweight (75kg) who attends in the Zagreb Grand Prix. The Russian star is one of the biggest names in the event and opened his campaign with a clear success over Albania’s Arjon Kajoshi who returned to the national team. In another middleweight (75kg) fight, Croatia’s 19-year-old Noa Jezek dominated his fight over North Macedonia’s Leo Jombahobaku.
Russia’s Muslim Gadzhimagomedov is the current AIBA World Champion and European Games winner at the heavyweight (91kg). Many of the boxing experts believes that he could be one of the top favourites for the gold medal also at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The 23-year-old Russian started the first round better than DR Congo’s Italy-based Jonathan Kogasso Kombe and won the bout by referee stopped the contest in the second.
