Ukraine was perfect in the Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament on Day3

The traditional Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament continued with 17 superb quarter-final contests in the Lithuanian capital in Vilnius where Ukraine dominated all of their contests. All of the winners advanced to the semi-finals and are guaranteed medallists in the prestigious youth event. The medallists from the previous EUBC Boxing Championships delivered strong performance on Day3.

The competition was named after Danas Pozniakas who is Lithuania’s national boxing hero who claimed gold medal at the 1968 Olympic Games and also crowned three-times in the history of the European Boxing Championships.

In the first bout of the third competition day Ukraine’s Maksim Galinichev felt the rhythm in the first round against Denmark’s Mickel Gierringe in their flyweight (52kg) contest. The 17-year-old Ukrainian boxer overcame his Danish rival in the attacks and moved more on feet than Gierringe. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Galinichev who will be boxing for the final with Spain’s Alberto Arroyo in Vilnius.

Turkey’s Azad Demirhan knocked down Poland’s Robert Resol in the opening round and after that he was confident in their flyweight (52kg) bout. The Polish boxer proved great fighting spirit after that big punch and did not give up their spectacular contest. The Turkish boxer had a great finish which was enough for him to beat his brave Polish rival in Vilnius. The Turkish boxer will now meet for the title bout with Italy’s Alessandro Adami whose Lithuanian opponent Neilas Seputis abandoned their contest.

Turkey’s Fazli Oztari proved strong performance in the preliminary round and he was able to control the opening minutes against Austria’s Ndricim Emini. The new Turkish Youth National Champion dictated the tempo and used the middle of the ring to control the bout. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Oztari who will be boxing for the final with Italy’s Augusto Buremi who was too strong for Spain’s Pablo Coy in the second quarter-final of the welterweight (69kg).

Hungary’s Istvan Enekes Youth Memorial Tournament winner Kalman Hanko and Belarus’ Yukov Junior Memorial Tournament winner Aliaksandr Berasneu had an equal contest in their welterweight (69kg) quarter-final. Both boxers had clear punches in the bout and due the last round’s effort the Hungarian was able to win that narrow bout by split decision. Hanko, who will be turning to 18 only in December, will now meet in the semi-final with Lithuania’s experienced Airijus Vitlipas. His Lithuanian opponent eliminated Poland’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Eryk Apresyan in a hectic bout.

Austria’s most experienced youth boxer Kushtrim Veseli tried to recude the fighting range against Belarus’ Vadzim Maroz in their light heavyweight (81kg) bout. The Austrian boxer was patient and tried to find the best moments when he could launch his hooks and uppercuts in the second round. Veseli raised his tempo and his dynamism delivered for him a place in the semi-final and a guaranteed medals.

Finland’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Krenar Aliu eliminated Austria’s younger talent Ahmed Hagag in his debuting match at the heavyweight (91kg) in Vilnius. The Finnish boxer had to meet with Lithuania’s Edvin Makievic in the quarter-final and he tried to use his height advantage in the bout. Aliu had better physical condition and effective punches in the bout and advanced to the last four in the event. His semi-final opponent will be Italy’s Salvatore Scala who trains in Sicily and dominated his fight against his Russian rival, Timofei Kuptsov. Following the second knock down the Hungarian referee confirmed Scala’s RSC success in the middle of the bout.

Ukraine’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dmytro Galagan launched amazing shots against Turkey’s Berat Acar and dominated all of the rounds in Vilnius. Galagan’s semi-final opponent will be his teammate EUBC European Junior Champion Arkadiy Kartsan who overwhelmed Lithuania’s Donas Spuckys with another strong performance on Day3.

Lithuania’s most experienced youth boxer Marek Korolkov had to meet with one of the favourite of the super heavyweight (+91kg) in the event today. His quarter-final opponent was Croatia’s Josip Biletic who was gold medallist in the last edition of the EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Kaposvar, Hungary in 2016 and joined to the youth age group this January. The Croatian super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer and the Lithuanian talent delivered brilliant battle in Vilnius where Korolkov was able to win their top level bout by split decision. Korolkov’s semi-final opponent will be Latvia’s Milans Volkovs who eliminated Hungary’s Laszlo Felfoldi.

Ukraine’s EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Oleksandr Hrytsiv moved ahead from the first seconds against Turkey’s Abdullah Kuzu and his punches were stronger and more accurate today. The 17-year-old Ukrainian super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer will face in the next stage with Poland’s Oskar Safaryan who also dominated his quarter-final against Lithuania’s Tichonas Krivojus.