England’s Sandy Ryan defeated Finland’s defending EUBC European Champion Elina Gustafsson in the semi-finals of the Boxam Women’s Tournament

Twenty-six semi-finals were held in new edition of the Boxam Women’s Tournament in Castellon de la Plana today. The winners advanced to the finals of the event in Spain where England’s Sandy Ryan delivered a small sensation following her success over EUBC European Women’s Champion Elina Gustafsson of Finland.

The President of the Spanish Boxing Federation Mr. Felipe Martinez divided their traditional international competition the Boxam into two parts this year. The first was held for the elite, youth and junior male boxers in Murcia in the month of May while the second Boxam Tournament for the female athletes is holding in Castellon de la Plana this week.

Fourteen countries are taking part in the Boxam Women’s Tournament including Russia, United States of America, Australia, Germany, England, Italy, Puerto Rico, Finland and Hungary from the traditional boxing nations. The competition is a preparation event for the elite boxers before the start of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Spain’s best elite boxer Laura Fuertes attended in the last edition of the EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Sofia and impressed with her rapid attacks. The 19-year-old Spanish light flyweight (48kg) boxer felt the support of the home crowd and she dictated the tempo in her semi-final against France’s Marie Connan. Fuertes advanced to the final of the Boxam Women’s Tournament where her next rival will be United States’ Jazelle Bobadilla.

United States’ AMBC American Women’s Champion Virginia Fuchs eliminated France’s No.1 Delphine Mancini in a top elite flyweight (51kg) bout on Day1 and she continued her winning path against Spain’s Maria Gonzalez in the semi-finals. Her teammate AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Christina Cruz dominated her semi-final against Spain’s Alba Ortiz Valades and continued the strong US performance in the Boxam Women’s Tournament.

Hungary’s EUBC European Confederation Women’s Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Angela Nagy joined to the elite boxers in January but she was quickly adopted the level of the featherweight (57kg) against older rivals. The 19-year-old Hungarian was more patient than in her recent bouts and tactically she overwhelmed Spain’s Maria Del Carmen Madueno in her semi-final.

Finland’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist and EUBC European Women’s Champion Mira Potkonen eliminated Hungary’s Kinga Mezovari in a relatively closer contest in the quarter-finals and met with France’s Amina Zidani in the last four. The Finnish boxer felt the tempo well in her second contest in Castellon de la Plana and secured her place in the final of the lightweight (60kg) where she will be meeting with Australia’s Anja Stridsman who eliminated Italy’s Rio 2016 Olympian Irma Testa.

Hungary’s two-time EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Hanna Lakotar eliminated Spain’s Naiara Leon Haro at the youth bantamweight (54kg) on Day1 and she performed better in the semi-finals. The 17-year-old Hungarian used her longer hands to keep the best fighting distance against Spain’s No.1 Miranda Reveron in the first round. The younger Hungarian felt the tempo and she landed high number of clear jabs in the third therefore Lakotar’s hand was raised after the final gong which means she can box for the title with Spain’s Tania Medina Ramos.

France’s EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships bronze medallist Wassila Lkhadiri started better than Hungary’s Krisztina Beri in their flyweight (51kg) semi-final. The 23-year-old French, who is trying to replace Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Sarah Ourahmoune in the team, was quicker than her Hungarian opponent and her pressurizing style was successful in their contest. Lkhadiri’s final opponent will be Australia’s Viviana Ruiz who celebrated her triumph over Germany’s Ursula Gottlob.

Finland’s Elina Gustafsson in the defending EUBC European Women’s Champion at the welterweight (69kg) who had to meet in the semi-final of the Boxam Women’s Tournament with England’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sandy Ryan. Gustafsson operated with hooks which she landed from close distance but Ryan was tactically better today which means the Commonwealth Games winner English boxer will be boxing for the title of the category against Czech Republic’s Martin Schmoranzova.

At the light heavyweight (81kg) Russia’s Liubov Yusupova was more experienced than her Hungarian rival Boglarka Brunner but she was not able to dominate the first round. The Hungarian had great footwork, avoided the biggest Russian punches and surprised Yusupova with her physical condition. Both boxers had the same rhythm in the bout and the judges picked the Hungarian as the winner which means Brunner can fight in the final with United States’ Krystal Graham-Dixon.

Spain’s best youth boxer Marta Lopez del Arbol attended in the Budapest 2018 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships a few weeks ago and she performed effectively against Germany’s Georgiana-Diana Podaru in the semi-final of the light flyweight (48kg). The local talent will be meeting for the title of the Boxam Women’s Tournament with Spain’s Maria Angeles Garcia tomorrow.

Germany’s currently best female athlete Nadine Apetz claimed bronze medal in the Astana 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships at the welterweight (69kg). As first she eliminated Australia’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Kaye Scott in Castellon de la Plana and she used her experiences to control her semi-final against Spain’s Lucia Blazquez. Apetz overtook her Spanish rival in the attacks and moved more on feet therefore her victory was clear in the last four.