Shona Whitwell and Aliaksandr Radzionau were the main surprises of the Liventsev Memorial Tournament
18 November 2019The 17th edition of the Liventsev Memorial Tournament was the highlight of the European boxing events this week which was hosted in the Belarusian capital in Minsk. England’s Shona Whitwell and Belarus’ 19-year-old Aliaksandr Radzionau delivered the main surprises in the day of the finals.
Minsk was the host also the European Games this June and after a few months a big event returned to the Belarusian capital. The Liventsev Memorial Tournament has a stronger brand name and the teams returned to the Belarusian capital to get the titles of the event after the European Games.
The following 18 nations attended in the Liventsev Memorial Tournament: Armenia, host Belarus, England, France, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. The Technical Delegate of the Liventsev Memorial Tournament was Mr. Maxim Cherticovtsev of Moldova.
Bout of the day
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Champion No.1 Azat Usenaliev eliminated Ukraine’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dmytro Zamotayev in the semi-finals of the flyweight (52kg). The Kyrgyz boxer used his unpredictable movements also in the final of the Liventsev Memorial Tournament against England’s Kiaran MacDonald who eliminated Spain’s European Games winner Gabriel Escobar. The Central Asian boxer was incredible in the finals once again and in spite of the strength of the English talent, the Kyrgyz won their title bout. Azat Usenaliev is one of the best male flyweight (52kg) boxers in the world who need to be watched also in the important year of 2020.
Surprises of the day
England’s Shona Whitwell had a short break in her career but she returned to the world of boxing one year ago and the 21-year-old talent amazed in the Liventsev Memorial Tournament. The tall English girl used her longer reach against India’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Shashi Chopra and she has done also a superb work in the final. Whitwell was excellent in the final and made a big surprise when she defeated Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sudaporn Seesondee.
Ukraine’s defending National Champion and top welterweight (69kg) boxer Yevhenii Barabanov defeated tough opponents to the road to the final in the Liventsev Memorial Tournament. Barabanov had to face for the title with Belarus’ 19-year-old Aliaksandr Radzionau who had strong youth results but he is new in the elite national team. The Belarusian teenager proved strong developments in the recent months and his youthful enthusiasm delivered for him a clear gold medal.
The Round-Up
The women’s flyweight (51kg) saw a local fight between Yana Burym and Yulia Apanasovich who eliminated Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong in the semi-final of the Liventsev Memorial Tournament. Apanasovich moved down one category to compete in an Olympic weight class but her technician style was enough to beat Burym in their selection bout. Her teammate Alina Veber has just moved up to the middleweight (75kg) who delivered another gold medal for Belarus in Minsk where she was slightly better than England’s Kerry Davis.
The defending EUBC European Women’s Champion at the featherweight (57kg) Irma Testa marched to the final of the Liventsev Memorial Tournament following her excellent performance in the competition. She eliminated India’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Manisha Moun and Asian Games bronze medallist Thailand’s Nilawan Techasuep during her road to the finals. The Italian proved tough performance once again in the final against Belarus’ Helina Bruyevich using her height advantage. Testa’s teammate Indian Open Tournament winner Assunta Canfora was too smart for Russia’s Tatiana Solomatina at the women’s welterweight (69kg).
Spain’s Jose Quiles claimed bronze medal at the Kharkiv 2017 EUBC European Boxing Championships and following his recoveries he achieved the title of the bantamweight (57kg) in Minsk. The 22-year-old Spanish boxer was slightly better than Kyrgyzstan’s Munarbek Seyitbek Uulu in the final. Quiles’ teammate Gazi Jalidov has got Russian roots but he has been fighting for Spain in the international stage and won his next title in Minsk after beating Belarus’ 19-year-old Aliaksei Alfiorau.
The Ukrainian boxers were superb in the Liventsev Memorial Tournament where their Yaroslav Khartsyz defeated Armenia’s Karen Tonakanyan in the final of the lightweight (63kg). Ukraine’s Serhii Horshkov had to meet in the final of the heavyweight (91kg) with his teammate Robert Marton but he managed to win that fight. Ukraine’s new sensation in the king category the Georgian-descent Tsotne Rogava was too strong for Moldova’s Alexei Zavatin at the super heavyweight (+91kg).
