Trofimciuk, Aliyev and Florentin impressed in the quarter-finals of the Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament
22 March 2019Twenty-eight quarter-final contests were held in the second competition day at the 14th edition of the Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament started in Vilnius, Lithuania. The host nation’s top boxer Aleksandr Trofimciuk gave in everything to beat his older Czech rival at the middleweight (75kg) while the main sensation of Day2 was delivered by Ukraine’s Elin Aliyev at the light welterweight (64kg).
The competition was named after Lithuania’s national boxing hero Danas Pozniakas who claimed gold medal at the Mexico 1968 Olympic Games and also crowned three-times in the history of the European Boxing Championships. During his long and successful career Danas Pozniakas won 203 bouts out of his 217 total contests in the ’60s.
Bout of the day
Lithuania’s best boxer in this age group is Aleksandr Trofimciuk who joined from the junior competitions this January and the Danas Pozniakas Tournament is his first main youth challenge. The 16-year-old boxer claimed two medals in the recent two editions of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships therefore his expectations are high in the event. The Lithuanian middleweight (75kg) boxer could not expect to an easy fight against Czech Republic’s Dominik Gloser and he had to find his own rhythm in their quarter-final. Trofimciuk’s skills and stamina were enough to control the second part of the bout and marched to the last four in Vilnius.
Surprise of the day
Hungary’s Adrian Orban claimed silver medal in the Budapest 2018 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and he arrived as gold medal contender of the light welterweight (64kg) to Vilnius. The 17-year-old Hungarian eliminated Belarus’ Youth National Yan Krukouski on Day1 but he suffered a surprise loss in the second competition day. His opponent was Ukraine’s Elvin Aliyev who is also an experienced boxer but his success over Orban was the main upset of Day2.
Team of the day
Wales had three quarter-finalists in the second competition day and all of their three talents advanced to the last four in Vilnius. Firstly Ioan Croft bowed out Russia’s Maksim Safin at the lightweight (60kg) which was a small surprise in the event. Following that his brother Julius Torma Youth Memorial Tournament winner Garan Croft controlled his light welterweight (64kg) contest against Lithuania’s Erikas Laurikietis. The third Welshmen who reached the semi-finals was Taylor Bevan after beating Sweden’s Nassir Elvaz at the welterweight (69kg) winning all of the rounds in each scorecard.
The Round-up
Russia’s EUBC European Junior Champion Khunkerkhan Tiulemeshev eliminated his main rival Hungary’s Zsolt Zuro in the opening day of the Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament. The 17-year-old bantamweight (56kg) talent had to meet as second with Romania’s Tavi Dobre who is also newcomer in the youth age group. Tiulemeshev repeated his performance and eliminated his Romanian rival winning the bout by unanimous decision and secured his place in the last four.
France’s Selim Bouaita has got strong connections to boxing as his father Rachid was Olympian boxer and medallists from big events in the ’90s. The 17-year-old French bantamweight (56kg) talent was stronger and landed more punches than Romania’s Robert Marian Lamba and advanced to the semi-finals. His teammate Sven Lange Memorial Junior Tournament winner Hugo Grau also impressed on Day2 when he eliminated Ukraine’s Ihor Kovtun at the lightweight (60kg).
Lithuania’s new hope at the youth age group Nedas Gudomskas was quarter-finalist in the Anapa 2018 EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships and he won the Ricardas Tamulis Junior Tournament as well. Gudomskas is only 16 but he has now high number of international contests and those paid off in his opening two contests at the Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament. He eliminated Sweden’s Kevin Scott as first and advanced to the semi-final of the lightweight (60kg) following his impressive success over Lithuania’s Aidas Savcenko.
France’s Wilfried Florentin achieved bronze medal at the EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships one year ago and following those experiences he could be a star at the heavyweight (91kg). The French boxer led 10:9 in each scorecard after the first round against Hungary’s Tibor Veres and landed a lethal shot in the second. Florentin destroyed the Hungarian and the referee confirmed his KO success in the second round.
