Russia’s Ilia Popov amazed the crowd in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships on Day2

The second competition day was a marathon program in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Budapest with 44 contests on the board. The European boxers increased their successes after Day1 and several of our future stars advanced to the next round in Budapest including Russia’s Ilia Popov who amazed the crowd today.

Russia’s Vsevolod Shumkov was gold medallist in the 2017 EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships but as a youth boxer he suffered a few unexpected losses this year. The 17-year-old Russian bantamweight (56kg) boxer and his opponent Australia’s Aamin Zahir Issa both started the contest with great rhythm. Shumkov used his footwork to find the weak points of his Australian opponent and finally he hand was raised after the last gong in Budapest.

Georgia’s Gia Totladze won international junior and youth tournaments during his career therefore he was a favourite against South Africa’s Ndokho Nyhebe. The Georgian bantamweight (56kg) boxer was successful in close distance and caught his African rival several times in their bout. Totladze reduced the fighting distance well enough and celebrated his victory by unanimous decision after the end of the contest.

Armenia’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Rafayel Hakobyan moved back a few steps before launching his counter-attacks to catch Turkey’s Mizan Aykol. The Armenian bantamweight (56kg) boxer moved more ahead in the second round but his younger Turkish opponent was a hard target. Hakobyan’s second round meant he had massive advantage in each scorecard after six minutes of fight. The Armenian boxer knew the best tactic against Aykol and advanced to the last 16 in Budapest.

England’s Azim Hassan achieved silver in Roseto degli Abruzzi in the continental event but he did not use his longer reach well to keep the best distance against Ukraine’s Maksym Molodan in the first round. The English boxer began the second round with a nice left-handed jab while Molodan had a few great hooks from closer range. The Ukrainian boxer had better stamina in the final round of their light welterweight (64kg) bout and surprisingly he was able to eliminate his English rival in Budapest.

Bulgaria’s Ivan Atanasov won the Boxam Youth Tournament in Spain this May but he was not the favourite against Japan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Sora Tanaka. The Japanese light welterweight (64kg) boxer started better and tried to land a big punch how he has done in his previous competitions. The Bulgarian boxer came back to the bout in the second round and worked from longer reach using his footwork. Atanasov had better tactical inventory than his younger Japanese opponent and eliminated one of the stars in Budapest.

Russia’s defending EUBC European Youth Champion at the men’s light welterweight (64kg) Ilia Popov demoralized his Algerian opponent Abderahim Sekelli in the first round and dominated their fight. The referee counted his North African opponent twice in the third round therefore Popov won their contest by large margin of differences. Another European talent in this weight class Denmark’s Sebastian Terteryan used the perfect tactic against Argentina’s Taiel Chaves and his patient style was enough to eliminate his South American rival.

England’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Karol Itauma used his height advantage as weapon against Algeria’s Mohand Mansouri and he boxed from his safest distance in the preliminary round of the light heavyweight (81kg). The English boxer eliminated his Algerian rival following another European boxer triumphed in the event, France’s Axel Yoka bowed out India’s Ronak.

Scotland’s Reese Lynch won the Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament last month and arrived to Budapest as a secret favourite of the lightweight (60kg). The 18-year-old Scottish boxer used his world class footwork to control the first round against Germany’s Noah Fischer. The German hope ruled the middle of the ring but Lynch’s counter-punches arrived with perfect timing and the Scottish boxer won the bout clearly.

Hungary’s Adrian Orban is the youngest team member of the host nation’s squad who won already international youth event. The 16-year-old Hungarian has got experiences also from the EUBC schoolboys and junior continental events. Orban started strongly against Kyrgyzstan’s Umar Kubanychbek Uulu and landed clear punches. The Hungarian had good shots also in the second and in spite of his difficulties in the third he was able to win their close bout.

Italy’s new sensation at the women’s light flyweight (48kg) Giorgia Rossi had strong preparations to the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and she proved fantastic performance as first against Ukraine’s Olena Ivanisova. The 17-year-old Italian played with her Ukrainian opponent well which means she needs only one further step to get a guaranteed medal in Budapest.

Germany’s EUBC European Confederation Women’s Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Maxi Kloetzer was quicker than Chinese Taipei’s Peng Chi Yan and secured her place in the quarter-final of the light flyweight (48kg). Ireland’s defending EUBC European Women’s Youth Champion in this category Daina Moorehouse and Russia’s Ksenia Beschastnova both advanced to the next round in Budapest.