Texto alternativo para invidentes

The first fights of the 1/8 finals of the boxing tournament of the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023 are behind us. So far, no big surprises, although the small ones are not lacking.

In the women’s competition, the Olympic champions: Estelle Mossely (FRA – 60 kg), Kellie Harrington (IRL – 60 kg) and Busenaz Surmeneli (TUR – 66 kg) did not disappoint. However, it should be noted that although Mossely won by unanimous decision of the judges, Chelsey Heijnen (NED) set the bar high and fought an equal battle.

Stanimira Petrova (54 kg) is also showing high form. The 2014 world champion and defending gold medalist of the previous European Games outclassed Anastasiia Kovalchuk of Ukraine.

Sandra Drabik (54 kg), who has already won a silver (2015) and bronze (2019) medal at the European Games, is in good shape. In Nowy Targ she won confidently for the second time. Today she worked brilliantly with a fast jab and gave no chance to Ekaterina Sycheva from Armenia.

Aneta Rygielska (POL) and Stefanie von Berge (GER) met last year in the final of the European Championships in the 66 kilogram weight class. Then the representative of Germany turned out to be better, but today the Polish boxer won by a 4:1 decision.

In the men’s competition, an excellent spectacle in the light heavyweight division was created by Taylor Bevan (GBR) and Kelyn Cassidy (IRL). Cassidy won on the cards of all judges, but it’s a shame that these fighters fought each other already in the 1/8 finals stage. Oleksandr Chyzhniak (80 kg) has already confidently won his second fight in Nowy Targ. Today he defeated Michail Tsamalidis high on points. The 18-year-old Greek is a European Youth Champion and can consider it a success that he lasted the whole distance against such a titled fighter as Chyzhniak.

In the heavyweight division, Enmanuel Reyes (ESP) and Alexander Okafor (GER) are showing high form. Today they confidently won their fights and will meet in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Yan Zak (ISR), who caused a big surprise on Saturday, today confirmed his good form by defeating Andrei Zaplitnii (MDA) on points. Now his opponent will be Mateusz Bereźnicki (POL), who has also already won two bouts in Nowy Targ.