The French stars as Lkhadiri and Hamadouche were fantastic in the semi-finals of the Boxam Tournament
09 October 2020Thirteen bouts have been held in the third competition day of the 34th edition of the Boxam Elite International Boxing Tournament in Castellon de la Plana, Spain. The French team arrived to the event with strong girls and among them Wassila Lkhadiri and Maiva Hamadouche proved fantastic performance on Day3.
Altogether 25 women and 43 men boxers are attending in the 34th edition of the Boxam Tournament in Castellon de la Plana. The strong US team, Italy, France, Wales, and Spain are the top nations in the Boxam Tournament but Peru, Puerto Rico and Mali also sent boxers to the competition.
The safety of all participants, the continuous medical checks, the social distancing, the hygienic preparations, wearing masks and all of the health controls are the responsibility of the local organizers in Spain to avoid any new Covid-19 cases during the Boxam Elite International Boxing Tournament.
The Technical Delegate of the Boxam Tournament is Mrs. Susanne Karrlander of Sweden while EUBC Competition Manager Mr. Dmitriy Gaistruk is also in the venue of the prestigious competition. The Chairman of the EUBC Medical Commission Mr. Ioannis Filippatos of Greece is in the venue to check all safety instructions. The President of the Spanish Boxing Federation, the new AIBA EC member Mr. Felipe Martinez follows all bouts in the venue.
The bout of the day
Marta Lopez Del Arbol caused the main sensation on Day2 when she eliminated Puerto Rico’s former US boxer, two-time AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships Christina Cruz. The 20-year-old Spanish met in the semi-finals of the women’s flyweight (51kg) with France’s Wassila Lkhadiri who had more experienced than Lopez. The French girl tried to control the middle of the ring in their bout while the younger Spaniard proved her best also. The final verdict was split decision in the favour of Lkhadiri in one of the best fights of the third competition day which means the French will be able to compete for the gold medal against Laura Fuertes in Castellon de la Plana.
The surprise of the day
France’s Maiva Hamadouche returned from the professional world more than one year ago to the national team and achieved silver medal at the Alcobendas 2019 EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships. The French lightweight (60kg) boxer returned to Spain to increase her number of international bouts and faced in the semi-finals with United States’ Rashida Ellis who claimed bronze at the Ulan-Ude 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Hamadouche landed punches from all possible angles during their fight and demoralized the US No.1 with her style delivering a small surprise on Day3.
The Round-Up
Maria Gonzalez Caceres is representing Spain at the women’s flyweight (51kg) in the European Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event where she won her opening bout against a Hungarian teenager. Gonzalez is not enough experienced as her teammate Laura Fuertes who was quarter-finalist at the light flyweight (48kg) in the 2019 EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships. Fuertes was concentrated until the last gong on their re-match after the national events and eliminated her main local rival in the Boxam Tournament.
The best US boxer at the women’s featherweight (57kg) Andrea Medina is a small girl but she has got powerful combinations. She was never stopped attacking when she met in the semi-finals with France’s Amina Zidani and advanced to the finals. The US girl will be meeting for the gold medal with Spain’s promising Jennifer Fernandez who bowed out the second French boxer of the weight class, Mona Mestiaen in a superb contest.
France’s Moreno Fendero and his opponent on Day3 Pablo Coy of Spain both have been preparing to the upcoming EUBC European U22 Boxing Championships. The French middleweight (75kg) boxer was slightly better in their exchanges and in spite of his smaller hands, he was able to beat the younger Spanish. Fendero will be boxing for the title of the weight class with Spain’s European Games quarter-finalist Miguel Cuadrado who had a tough fight against Wales’ 19-year-old Bevan Taylor.
Italy’s newcomer Alessio Di Fiore controlled the first round against Spain’s Luis Alamo and decided the contest in the second using his strength. The Italian will be boxing for the gold medal of the light heavyweight (81kg) with Spain’s Gazimagomed Jalidov who eliminated the US boxer of the category, Robby Gonzales. Spain’s former Cuban heavyweight (91kg) star Emmanuel Reyes also defeated a US boxer, National Olympic Trials winner Darius Fulghum on Day3.
