The best Romanian and English boxers advanced to the finals of the Golden Belt Tournament
29 September 2018The third competition day was held in the Golden Belt Tournament in Galati where the men’s semi-finals were in the official program. Romania’s EUBC European U22 Champions duo Robert Jitaru and Andrei Paul Aradoaie advanced to the finals on Day3 which competition day was dominated by the English team.
The Romanian Boxing Federation hosted the last two editions of the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships in Braila and in Targu Jiu. Their strong staffs have got all of the experiences to organize top competitions in our continent. The new 43rd edition of the Golden Belt Tournament is hosting for the women and men elite boxers as well.
The recent editions of the Golden Belt Tournament were taking place in Constanta, in Chiajna, in Craiova and in Iasi and after these cities the competition arrived to Galati. The Golden Belt Tournament is a preparation event for the European Union Boxing Championships which will be held in Valladolid, Spain in November.
England’s Rio 2016 Olympian WSB boxer Galal Yafai moved up to the flyweight (52kg) just before the start of the Golden Belt Tournament but he used his strong jabs to stop Ireland’s Conor Quinn in the attacks. England’s powerful boxer, whose elder brothers are world class athletes, won their semi-final by unanimous decision. Yafai’s final opponent will be Bulgaria’s Tinko Banabakov who eliminated Spain’s Martin Molina in a hectic battle.
England’s next finalist in the Golden Belt Tournament became Peter McGrail who is one of the best boxers at the men’s bantamweight (56kg) in the entire world. The 22-year-old boxer is the EUBC European Champion and the Commonwealth Games winner but he had to do his very best to beat Spain’s Jose Quiles in the semi-final. McGrail’s superb triumph means he can meet in the final with Bulgaria’s young talent Boyan Asenov who eliminated Ireland’s Kurt Walker in a spectacular fight.
Romania’s two-time EUBC European U22 Champion Robert Jitaru claimed silver medal at the Ahmet Comert Tournament in his new category at the lightweight (60kg) two weeks ago and he did his very best against Wales’ Mickey McDonagh in the semi-finals on home soil. The 21-year-old Romanian won the bout by 4:1 and will be facing for the title with his teammate Vasile Suciu.
England’s EUBC European U22 Champion Luke McCormack was not satisfied with his bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games and he raised the number of his training schedule to be the best in the upcoming events. The 23-year-old English light welterweight (64kg) boxer dominated his semi-final against Egor Bejenaru and the Moldovan ringside abandoned their bout in the third round.
Luke’s twin brother EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Pat McCormack is more than a world class boxer at the welterweight (69kg). The 23-year-old English star controlled all of the rounds against Serbia’s Petar Stosic in the quarter-finals and the Rio 2016 Olympian was too smart for Ireland’s Kieran Molloy. Pat McCormack’s final opponent will be Moldova’s Vasilii Belous who eliminated Hungary’s 20-year-old Laszlo Kozak in a top contest.
Serbia’s 19-year-old Djordje Bujisic was quarter-finalist in the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships in Targu Jiu but his today’s victory was over his previous limit. The Serbian teenager impressed in the semi-finals of the middleweight (75kg) against England’s Carl Fail and remained his gold medal chances alive in Galati where his final opponent will be Moldova’s Victor Carapcevschi.
Ireland’s three-time EUBC European Champion Joseph Ward is the best light heavyweight (81kg) boxer in our continent but he needed to do his very best to eliminate Wales’ Commonwealth Games winner 19-year-old Sammy Lee. Ward will be facing for the title of the Golden Belt Tournament with Romania’s EUBC European U22 Champion Andrei Paul Aradoaie who dominated his semi-final over Spain’s Alejandro Camacho.
Chemistry Cup silver medallist Kirill Afanasev is a new sensation at the heavyweight (91kg) who eliminated England’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Cheavon Clarke on Day2 and continued his winning path against another top boxer Ukraine’s former AIBA Junior World Champion Robert Marton. Afanasev won both of his fights by 3:2 and following these successes he will be facing with Ukraine’s Serhii Horskov for the title.
Romania’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Mihai Nistor is member of the national team since 2010 who delivered his energetic style against Ireland’s Dean Gardiner in Galati. The 28-year-old Romanian super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer never stopped attacking and his stamina means that he can box for the title with England’s star Frazer Clarke on Day4.
