First surprise in the boxing tournament
The second day of the European Games in boxing is behind us. So far the favorites were winning, but at the end of the day we witnessed the first surprise.
Women, 54 kg:
A very good show was created by Jennifer Lehane (IRL) against Sara Cirkovic (SRB). A blow-for-blow fight for three full rounds. All judges scored 29:28, three in favor of the Irishwoman, two in favor of the Serbian. The joy for Polish fans was brought by Sandra Drabik, who proved to be better than the experienced Delphine Mancini from France.
Women 57 kg:
Experienced Michaela Walsh (IRL) won on all judges’ cards, but Olga Pavlina Papadatou (GRE) put up a strong resistance to her. Unbeaten in the professional ring (4-0) Amina Zidani (FRA) confidently won over Ana Milisic and will be one of the medal candidates. Ukrainian Marianna Basanets quickly dealt with Ajla Vovic. After two counts, the referee stopped the fight already in the first round. Elise Jacqueline Glynn (GBR) had a difficult crossing with Andela Brankovic, but won on all judges’ cards (5-0).
Women, 66 kg:
A boxing show was given by World Championships and Olympic Games gold medalist Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey. Ambitious Austeja Auciute from Lithuania had nothing to say.
Men, 51 kg:
A very good fight at half-distance was fought between Attila Bernath (HUN) and David Alaverdian (ISR). Toe-to-toe, interesting exchanges, but after three rounds the Hungarian representative deservedly won (4:1). German Salah Ibrahim also showed from a good side. He operated nicely with his jab, changed position from orthodox to southpaw and easily fought off the Estonian representative.
Men, 80 kg:
Taylor Bevan’s talent flashed in the ring in Nowy Targ. The British fighter showed good combinations and fast hands. He did not give the slightest chance to Mathieu Bauderlique, and after all, the Frenchman is an Olympic bronze medalist from Rio (2016) and a former European champion. All judges awarded three rounds in favor of the Briton.
It took Gradus Kraus just half a minute to win. The Dutchman hit with a right uppercut and broke the nose of his Czech rival. After consulting a doctor, the referee stopped the duel. Also strong in this limit seems Irishman Kelyn Cassidy, who easily outpointed his opponent from Norway (5x 30:27).
The favorite Oleksandr Khyzhniak, former world and European champion and Olympic silver medalist, did not disappoint. Giorgi Kushitashvili of Georgia fought as an equal in the first minutes, but weakened at the end of the second round. Khyzhniak increased his lead and at the end of the third round the duel was stopped.
For two rounds, Murad Allahverdiyev (AZE) and Kevin Schumann (GER) had a very nice, even fight. In the third Allahverdiyev broke his rival and after three counts the fight was stopped.
Men, 92 kg:
Enmanuel Reyes is one of the heavyweight favorites of this tournament, but today Soheb Bouafia set the bar very high for him. In the end, after three rounds, the Spanish representative won by a 4:1 ratio, but the result could have gone the other way for good. Alexander Okafor also performed solidly, winning all rounds against the Albanian representative. Certain victories were recorded by Arkadii Kartsan (UKR), Mateusz Bereznicki (POL) and Lewis Williams (GBR).
In the last fight funs have witnessed a big surprise. Loren Alfonso, a Cuban-born representative of Azerbaijan, world champion, European champion, Olympic bronze medalist, unexpectedly lost 1:4 to Yan Zak from Israel. All because of two warnings in the second round. This is the first such surprise at the tournament in Nowy Targ.