The semi-finals featured at the EUBC Schoolboys & Schoolgirls European Boxing Championships in Erzurum, Turkey on Day7. Ukraine, England, Ireland and Turkey are the most successful nations in the event, all of them have plenty of the finalists in Erzurum.
Following the EUBC U22 European Boxing Championships, the EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships and the EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships, the next continental event will be held for the schoolboys and schoolgirls.
The number of the participating boxers is 338 including 100 girls in this new edition of the championship. The competition period of the EUBC Schoolboys & Schoolgirls European Boxing Championships is August 12-20. Following the rest day, the 29 finals will be held on August 20. The Technical Delegate of the EUBC Schoolboys & Schoolgirls European Boxing Championships is Mr. Viorel Sima of Romania.
The following 28 nations registered to attend at the EUBC Schoolboys & Schoolgirls European Boxing Championships: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine.
The bout of the day
Azerbaijan sent a strong team to the competition, their male boxers are among the best squads in Erzurum. Subhan Babayev won the recent Schoolboys National Championships in Azerbaijan with a large margin of difference and he impressed in the whole competition in Erzurum. Babayev had a very talented rival in the semi-finals of the 44kg weight class, England’s George Ralph and he needed to show his best in this tight fight. The 14-year-old Azeri was slightly better in the decisive final round and marched to the title bout where his last opponent will be Italy’s Anthony El-Moeti.
The surprise of the day
Bosnia & Herzegovina hosted the 2021 edition of the EUBC Schoolboys & Schoolgirls European Boxing Championships for the very first time. Their boxers earned altogether two bronze medals, and one of them was achieved by Dunja Vuksic at the schoolgirls’ 51kg weight class. The Bosnian & Herzegovian girl moved up to the 57kg category and returned to the international stage in Erzurum in an absolutely different level of boxing. Vuksic not only looked stronger than Poland’s Zuzanna Golebiewska but she had better technical skills following her development and marched to the finals in her second championship.
The Round-Up
Ireland returned to the level of the EUBC Schoolgirls & Schoolboys European Boxing Championships after 2019 and their team proved a fantastic performance in Erzurum. Their first finalist will be Ellen Winnie Joyce who eliminated Turkey’s Eylem Ece Unlu in the first female semi-final of the championship. The Irish girl competed in several national events but this Erzurum event is her first international championship during her career. Joyce will be meeting with England’s Leah Paylor in the upcoming final of the schoolgirls’ 36kg weight class.
England’s Layla Straughan had a fantastic performance on the day of the semi-finals, she showed development in this championship. The English girl won two out of the three rounds against Turkey’s Nisa Nur Gursoy and advanced to the final of the 40kg weight class where she will now meet Ireland’s Elma Barry for the title. Serena Mali is the English team’s best girl based on her performance in Erzurum, she dominated all of her contests including the semi-final against Ukraine’s Sofia Liahotska. Mali’s final opponent will be Armenia’s top schoolgirl talent, Hamest Afrikyan who found the best tempo against Ireland’s Abbey Molloy.
Uliana Ovsepian has Armenian roots but she represents Ukraine in the EUBC Schoolboys & Schoolgirls European Boxing Championships. The 14-year-old talent had a tough semi-final opponent at the 46kg weight class, England’s Ruby Cuthburtson but she managed to win this tough semi-final contest in Erzurum. Four out of the five judges favoured the Ukrainian girl who will face Ireland’s Alana Louise O’Brien in the final of this strong weight class. The multiple Irish girl champion defeated a Turkish boxer, Sudenaz Efil in the second semi-final with confidence.
Martina De Felice became the first Italian finalist at the EUBC Schoolboys & Schoolgirls European Boxing Championships. The Italian girl dominated the first round against Poland’s Maria Gorzelena and took the lead on the judges’ scorecards. She followed her coach, Valeria Calabrese’s instructions and controlled the second and third rounds to secure an emerging triumph. De Felice needs only one further success to feel the golden moments but Turkey’s Eda Nur Ilhan will be a strong rival at the 48kg.
Greece’s Nearchos Petros Konstanioudis achieved a bronze medal at the 2021 EUBC Schoolboys European Boxing Championships and he is one of the most experienced boxers in the male part of the competition. The 14-year-old Greek boxer used his aggressive style of boxing against England’s George Francis and his pressure delivered a tight success for him in the semi-finals of the 42kg weight class. The Greek talent will now meet Hungary’s Abel Koromi who defeated Turkey’s Mehmet Akif Ficici in the second semi-final of the category.