Twenty-three European nations represent the quarter-finals at the AIBA World Boxing Championships

Record number of 23 European nations advanced to the quarter-final stage of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. The Russian Boxing Federation, Azerbaijan, Serbia, Italy, France and Turkey are the most successful nations after the eight-days long preliminaries.

Boxers at the flyweight (51kg), featherweight (57kg), light welterweight (63.5kg), welterweight (67kg), middleweight (75kg) and light heavyweight (80kg) competed for the quarter-finals in the eighth day of boxing at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Belgrade.

Following seven preliminary competition days, 358 bouts are concluded in the AIBA World Boxing Championships where the total number of boxers is 510 from 88 nations representing four Confederations. Among the 88 countries, 38 arrived from the European continent which competes with 246 boxers in Serbia’s capital city. The Technical Delegate of the AIBA Men’s Elite World Boxing Championships is Mr. Marko Marovic of Croatia.  

The bout of the day

Russian Boxing Federation’s EUBC European U22 Champion and their new Elite National Champion Akhtem Zakirov is one of the favourites at the flyweight (51kg) but he had several difficulties in the last 16 with Hungary’s former EUBC European Youth Champion Attila Bernath. The 23-year-old Russian is a small boxer in this weight class and his Hungarian opponent approved his in-fighting style today. Zakirov was slightly better in the first round but Bernath landed strong uppercuts and hooks in the second. The Russian boxer knocked down the Hungarian in the very last second and that moment decided their narrow contest and Zakirov can continue in the last eight.

The surprise of the day

Italy’s Salvatore Cavallaro and France’s strong Moreno Fendero both impressed in the previous stages of the AIBA World Boxing Championships and the two boxers met each other in the round of 16. The 26-year-old Italian recovered from his injury in time to attend in Belgrade and proved better performance rounds by rounds. The Italian worked a lot on feet in the first round to avoid Fendero’s punches who knocked out his previous rival. Cavallaro had the stamina to keep the world class level footwork in all of the three rounds therefore he can continue in the quarter-finals of the middleweight (75kg). Despite of serious injury and lack of preparations, Cavallaro not only attends in the event but he is now quarter-finalist.

The Round-Up

France’s Samuel Kistohurry won the most important European international tournaments in the recent three years and amazed with his power in his contests. The 26-year-old French opened the afternoon session in a bout against a boxer from Fair Chance Team 2, Abdule-Fawaz Aborode. The 19-year-old talent had brave attacks against the French who reserved his energy for the later actions in Belgrade. France’s featherweight (57kg) star Kistohurry landed several clear punches during the bout and his power-saving performance.

Georgia’s Lasha Guruli won the 2018 EUBC U22 European Boxing Championships and competed in several tournaments in the recent years before joining to the new welterweight (67kg). The 25-year-old boxer is in top shape now to reach a wonderful result in Belgrade where he used his long-range tactic to counter-attack Iran’s Moslem Maghsoudi. The Georgian was highly confident but he did not underestimate his Iranian rival who won his first national title still in 2016. Guruli’s strategy worked well and he could beat the Iranian with strong technical skills.

Serbia’s Vakhid Abbasov is their most experienced boxer who claimed gold medal at the 2019 EUBC U22 European Boxing Championships representing Russia. The 24-year-old boxer is one of the favourites at the welterweight (67kg) who faced with Kyrgyzstan’s National Champion Zhakshylyk Talaybekov in the round of 16. The experienced Serbian was stronger than his opponent and controlled all of the three rounds which means he needs only one triumph to get a medal.

Germany’s medal favourite Nelvie Tiafack lost his second preliminary bout on Day7 therefore Kevin Schumann remained the country’s last chance to reach the quarter-finals. The 23-year-old boxer won the Cologne Boxing World Cup this March and earned silver at the EUBC U22 European Boxing Championships on June. Schumann’s coaches built up a strong strategy against Iran’s ASBC Asian Boxing Championships bronze medallist Seyed Shahin Mousavi. The German middleweight (75kg) boxer was relaxed, he knew how to beat the Iranian and followed the tactical pathway which means he is now quarter-finalist.

Croatia’s Gabrijel Veocic is only 20-year-old but he is so experienced already following his junior and youth medals in the big events. The Croatian middleweight (75kg) boxer arrived to Belgrade as a secret medal favourite and proved better and better performance in each round. The Croatian youngster met with Scotland’s EUBC European Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist 21-year-old Samuel Hickey in the round of 16 and he started with effective shots in the first round of boxing. Veocic managed to build up enough advantage before the third round to use his own game play in their contest which means the young Croatian can box for the medal tomorrow.

Italy’s experienced Federico Serra competed in the World Series of Boxing and several big championships in the recent six years but he had to miss some of the most important events. The Italian claimed medals in all of his international tournaments this year and he was in top shape against Brazil’s Ronald Da Silva today. The Italian worked from several distances in this contest and he had the right answers to all of the Brazilian tactical changes. Serra advanced to the quarter-final of the flyweight (51kg) which is his career’s best.

Moldova’s Andrei Chiriacov is a young talent in their national team but he did not give any chance to Fair Chance Team’s Silab Noori in their light heavyweight (80kg) meeting. The Moldovan took the lead immediately and his tough punches were decisive in the second round when the bout was stopped by the ringside doctor. Russian Boxing Federation’s Savelii Sadoma, Ireland’s Keylan Cassidy and Belarus’ Aliaksei Alfiorau were all won their contests in this category during the evening session.

The quote of the day

“I believe it was a good performance today from my side, I followed the instructions. My concentration is on the quarter-final now where I will meet with a new Cuban boxer. I think everyone is beatable, I am not afraid of him and as usual I will do my very best in the quarter-final,” commented his success Croatia’s Gabrijel Veocic who eliminated Scotland’s Samuel Hickey at the middleweight (75kg).