The Romanian talents defeated their Welshmen opponents in the first day of the Nations Junior Cup

The second edition of the Nations Junior Cup began in the Drago Jovovic Sporting Hall with its first competition day in the city of Vrbas, Serbia. The Romanian boxers defeated their Welshmen opponents on Day1 which delivered successes mainly for Russia, Azerbaijan, Serbia, India and Georgia.

Following the general weigh-in it turned out that 50 women and 125 men boxers from 24 nations are attending in the Nations Junior Cup which is a preparation event for the upcoming EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships.

The following 24 nations are attending in the Nations Junior Cup: Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Macedonia, Mauritius, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, host Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, United States of America and Wales.

The boxers who were born in 2002 and in 2003 are eligible to take part in the Nations Junior Cup in Serbia. Men and women boxers are competing in the 13-13 official junior weight classes in Vrbas: 46kg, 48kg, 50kg, 52kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63kg, 66kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg and +80kg.

Russia’s Aleksandra Tikhonova is a newcomer in the national team but the 15-year-old girl was able to beat Sweden’s Zehra Melli by unanimous decision at the women’s bantamweight (54kg) in Vrbas which was the first female contest of the whole competition. Nikolina Boke is Latvia’s big future woman hope who attended in the international training camp in Ireland earlier this August but she did not find the best fighting distance against India’s Poonam and suffered a loss in the first competition day.

Slovakia’s Michaela Turacova, who attended in a Polish international event already, stopped Turkey’s Melisa Nur Yilmaz in the second round following her tough blows and advanced to the next stage of the women’s featherweight (57kg). Russia’s Vladlena Bezlapova was bronze medallist in the last edition of the Nations Junior Cup and she did the same quick success as the Slovakian girl, over Croatia’s Marta Kozulj on Day1.

Romania’s Bornemissza Junior Memorial Tournament bronze medallist Mihai Vaduva shined in the first man bout of the Nations Junior Cup against Wales’ Romeo Costa and advanced to the next round of the pinweight (46kg). His strong teammate Eusebiu Tarzoman did the same tough performance against Wales’ Brandon Scott at the light flyweight (48kg). After two contests in Vrbas Romania leads against Wales 2-0 in the competition.

India’s Bishwamitra Chongtham received the right to box in the international level at the very first time and opened with an unexpected success over Kazakhstan’s Bornemissza Junior Memorial Tournament silver medallist Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbayuli at the light flyweight (48kg). In the same category Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup winner Ali Zamanov had to do his very best to beat Israel’s Maor Rusanov in a hectic bout.

Mauritius sent two boxers to the Nations Junior Cup which is their first ever appearance in a European junior competition. Their Niven Chemben, who has been attending in the national events since 2016, was too strong for Serbia’s Leonardo Jakupi at the light bantamweight (52kg). The Serbian ringside abandoned their unequal fight in the third round.

Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup winner Azrak Babirov was the favourite against Georgia’s Eldari Gogiashvili at the bantamweight (54kg) and he was able to realize his chances but won the bout only by split decision. Serbia’s Junior National Champion Branko Zeremski had a superb victory over Croatia’s Antun Lovakovic at the featherweight (57kg) and he is also advanced to the next round.

Georgia’s EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships quarter-finalist and Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup runner-up Lado Lomaia did not give any chance to Croatia’s Petar Kresimir Knezevic at the light welterweight (63kg) on Day1. Israel’s most experienced junior boxer EUBC European Confederation Schoolboys Boxing Championships bronze medallist Daniel Ilyushonok impressed against Serbia’s Nikola Perovic and won their contest by unanimous decision at the light middleweight (70kg).