Spain’s Emmanuel Reyes defeated Kazakhstan’s star Vasiliy Levit in the final of the Boxam Tournament
07 March 2021The fifteen final contests were held in the fifth competition day at the 35th edition of the Boxam Elite International Boxing Tournament in Castellon de la Plana, Spain. The host nation’s pride Emmanuel Reyes has done a fantastic battle with Kazakhstan’s Vasiliy Levit in the final of the heavyweight (91kg) and earned the title.
The new edition of the Boxam Tournament was the strongest competition in Spain in the recent ten years with many stars on the board. Altogether 127 boxers from 17 different countries competed in the Boxam Tournament this week and 15 champions were crowned in the finals.
Italy topped the medal table with five titles ahead of Spain’s four gold medals while United States of America became the runner-up. India, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico and Russia won the remaining titles in the Boxam Tournament. Denmark, Lithuania, France, Panama, Belgium and Romania earned at least one bronze medal.
The following 17 nations attended in the Boxam Tournament: Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, France, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Monaco, Morocco, Panama, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, host Spain and United States of America. Four out of the five Confederations sent boxers to the Boxam Tournament despite of the travelling difficulties.
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 Castellon de la Plana to avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the Boxam Tournament.
The bout of the day
Spain’s Emmanuel Reyes has got more than 300 contests and the ex-Cuban boxer has done an emotional battle against Kazakhstan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Vasiliy Levit in the final of the heavyweight (91kg). Both are among the world’s best boxers in that weight category and delivered another sensational contest in Castellon de la Plana. Reyes worked from longer distance in the final and let Levit to come closer in the first minutes. The Spaniard started the contest better and he had enough jabs in the second round to take the title in spite of Levit’s excellent finish in the third.
The surprise of the day
Spain’s European Games winner Gabriel Escobar and his opponent Kazakhstan’s two-time ASBC Asian Youth Champion 19-year-old Makhmud Sabyrkhan both began the final of the flyweight (52kg) in amazing rhythm. The Spaniard landed nice hooks in the first minute while Sabyrkhan also had great punches in the end of the opening round. Sabyrkhan moved ahead and tried to control the middle of the ring while the Spanish worked from counter-attacking distance. Escobar, who eliminated India’s Amit Panghal in the quarter-finals, lost his control in the third round and the Kazakh teenager won their contest causing a surprise in the fifth competition day.
The Round-Up
Italy’s EUBC European Women’s Champion and Rio 2016 Olympian Irma Testa used her longer reach in the previous contests but she had to change a bit her strategy against India’s new national team member Jaismine who is the tallest boxer at the featherweight (57kg). Both boxers have got the same fighting style but this time Testa moved ahead more and tried to catch the younger Indian. The Italian was quicker in the second round than her Indian opponent and she continued that strategy in the third therefore Testa won her next international competition after the Bocskai Memorial Tournament.
Denmark was not able to make any international activities in the recent one year since the European Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event. Despite of the situation, their Nikolai Terteryan marched to the final of the lightweight (63kg) in the Boxam Tournament. The Danish boxer will be turning to 20 this year but he proved wonderful style of boxing in the whole event, including in the final against India’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Manish Kaushik. Terteryan was highly competitive in their final, showed impressive tactical elements but lost by split decision in one of the narrowest contests of the day.
Spain’s Rio 2016 Olympian Youba Ndiaye Sissokho missed almost two years in boxing but he returned in good shape in 2019. The Spanish welterweight (69kg) boxer used virtuoso style of boxing in the semi-finals and he has done another tough performance in the final against India’s Asian Games winner Vikas Krishan Yadav. Sissokho moved ahead more and worked from several fighting ranges during the final against the Indian who joined to the international stage still in 2007. Both boxers landed high number of shots in the spectacular contest which was won by Sissokho with small differences.
Italy’s Roberta Bonatti is 23 but she had dozens of international contests in the recent eight years. The Italian light flyweight (48kg) boxer was smaller than her final opponent, Spain’s Cristina Morales Martin but she moved ahead and wanted to fight. Bonatti opened the first round with great punches but Morales had a great finish in the end of the third minute when she landed tough jabs. Morales, who switched from other martial arts to boxing, boxed over her previous limit but she received a lot of hooks and the Italian won the title.
Russia’s Svetlana Soluianova was gold medallist at the 2018 EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships. The Russian flyweight (51kg) boxer impressed in the Boxam Tournament and won the title of one of the most difficult weight categories. Soluianova was taller than her US opponent, Virginia Fuchs and she used her distance well enough in the final especially in the first and second rounds. Her tough US opponent caught the Russian in the third round with strong punches but Soluianova could celebrate her gold medal after the final gong.
Russia’s Saadat Dalgatova and Italy’s Angela Carini both claimed silver medals at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships during their career. The 10-years-older Russian was a real fighter in the first round in the final of the welterweight (69kg) but Carini also adopted the style and rhythm of the bout. The 22-year-old Italian was more aggressive in the second round and following her change, she could beat Dalgatova in a strong battle.
