Four Europeans will be boxing for the title of the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships

Following the 32 exciting quarter-finals, the day of the semi-finals was held in the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Russia. Europe achieved 10 medals in the event and among them three Russians as Andrei Zamkovoi, Gleb Bakshi and Muslim Gadzhimagomedov, furthermore an English boxer Pat McCormack advanced to the finals of the AIBA World Boxing Championships.

Among the participating 78 nations and 365 boxers, Europe represents the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships with 169 athletes from 36 countries. The following 36 European nations are attending in the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Yekaterinburg: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.

Bout of the day

The Russian boxing team competed with eight boxers in the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships and among them four became medallists and three advanced to the finals. Minsk 2019 European Games winner Muslim Gadzhimagomedov is 22 but he was named as one of the main hopes to get the gold at the heavyweight (91kg). The Russian used his longer reach and hands as strong weapons against the smaller Bulgarian, Radoslav Pantaleev in their semi-finals. The Russian heavyweight (91kg) boxer played with his Bulgarian opponent in the third round and enjoyed that period from their bout. One of his right-handed uppercuts were serious but the Bulgarian also responded from closer distance. Pantaleev looked satisfied with the bronze medal in the final minute and Gadzhimagomedov could celebrate his next success in Yekaterinburg.

Surprise of the day

England’s Pat McCormack claimed the gold medal at the Minsk 2019 European Games and silver in the Kharkiv 2017 EUBC European Boxing Championships but he expected a heavy battle against Uzbekistan’s Bobo-Usmon Baturov. His Uzbek opponent won the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, the Bangkok 2019 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships and many other events. McCormack had a confident style from the first seconds and surprised Baturov with his effectiveness. England’s welterweight (69kg) No.1 exceeded the expectations with his dominancy over Baturov and advanced to the final of the championship.

The Round-Up

Russia’s defending National Champion Gleb Bakshi lost his quarter-final in the Minsk 2019 European Games but he performed over his limit in the whole AIBA World Boxing Championships. The 24-year-old middleweight (75kg) boxer eliminated Cuba’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner Arlen Lopez in the quarter-finals and delivered his next strong performance in the last four against Brazil’s Hebert William Conceicao Souza. Bakshi competed in the opening session of Day11 and became the first European boxer who advanced to the final of the AIBA World Boxing Championships.

Milan 2009 AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist and London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Andrei Zamkovoi is in top shape in the recent two years and using his experiences to beat his rivals in Yekaterinburg as well. Following his successes over Belgium’s Nabil Messaoudi, Canada’s Wyatt Sanford, and Cuba’s London 2012 Olympic Games winner Roniel Iglesias, he met with Kazakhstan’s Ablaikhan Zhussupov. The Russian boxer followed his strict strategy against one of the most promising boxers of the welterweight (69kg) and won their narrow fight on home soil.

Statistics before the finals

The following 9 nations have got at finalists in the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships:

• Uzbekistan: 4 finalists
• Russia: 3 finalists
• Cuba, Kazakhstan: 2 finalists
• Ecuador, England, India, Philippines, United States of America: 1 finalist