Women In Boxing Deliver

In the aftermath of the Olympic Qualifications and Women’s World Championships we can now state that we have come a long way in women’s boxing.

The World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, was of top quality and the strongest competition in its 15 years of existence. Ten World Champions were crowned and twelve Olympic quota places were distributed for the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio.
In the finals thirteen countries were represented. Host nation Kazakhstan claimed four golds and China two. France, Great Britain, Italy and USA winning one gold each.

The work and development for European women’s boxing is ongoing, this time resulted in 16 medals in total. This is however a decline compare to the Women’s World Championships 2014, where Europe claimed 21 medals in total and 24 medals ended up in Europe in 2012 edition.

In 48 kg the reigning world champion Nazym Kyzaibay from Kazakhstan defended her title by defeating Wang Yuyan from China. Nicola Adams won the gold medal in 51 kg. Adams is the reigning Olympic gold medalist but after three silvers this was Nicola’s first World championship gold. Kazakhstan claimed another gold medal in 54 kg through Dina Zholaman who fought Stoyka Petrova from Bulgaria in the final. Italy’s Alessia Mesiano won over Sonia Lather from India in 57 kg.

In the last five editions of this tournament Katie Taylor has won the gold medal. Before 2016 Taylor, the reigning Olympic lightweight gold medalist, had been unbeaten in four years. But at Olympic qualifier in April, Katie lost to Yana Alekseevna, Azerbaijan. Taylor then lost to the talented Estelle Mossely, France, in the semi-finals in Astana. Estelle Mossely defeated Anastasiia Beliakova from Russia in the final. Yang Wenlu from China was the winner in 64 kg after she defeated Ireland’s Kellie Harrington in the final. Kazakhstan’s third gold medal was claimed by Valentina Khalzova after beating Gu Hong, China.

Reigning Olympic middleweight champion Claressa Shields came through as the winner of the Women’s World championships, beating the Netherlands’ Nouchka Fontijn in the 75kgs final. Shields was awarded the prize for best boxer of the tournament. Yang Xiaoli, China, was the winner in the 81 kg final against Kaye Scott from Australia.

In +81 kg Kazakhstan again was on the top of the game through Lazzat Kungeibayeva who in the finals took on Shadasia Green from USA and won the fourth gold medal for the host country in the very last bout of the tournament.

European women boxers now have 4 quotas in 51 kg, 6 quotas in 60 kg and 4 quotas in 75 kg to the Olympic Games 2016. It has been exciting to see all the talented and strong boxers during the Olympic Qualifications and the Women’s World Championship. The development of Women in boxing shows a great progress and strong dedication from everyone involved. A milestone for women in boxing was during this latest tournament when I sat as Deputy Supervisor at ringside and turned my head to the left to see six women waiting to officiate the next bout, and turning to the right to se two women doctors ready to assist. For the first time in World Championship history we had a bout with only women in and around the ring.

Susanne Karrlander
Chairperson EUBC Women’s Commission
Vice President Swedish Boxing Federation