Germany’s trio as Isabell Dezel, Josefin Rovira Rifaterra and Dietrich Hermann were all strong in the third day of boxing at the 31st edition of the Brandenburg U19 Cup in Frankfurt an der Oder where Azerbaijan, Georgia, France, Italy, Croatia, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland and others also have finalists.
Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Seychelles, Sweden and Ukraine sent their teams to the Brandenburg U19 Cup.
Boxers from the 2008 and the 2009 age groups are eligible to participate in the Brandenburg U19 Cup in Germany.
The bout of the day
Germany’s Dietrich Hermann was a quarter-finalist at the last European U19 Boxing Championships in Ostrava and he dominated the Danas Pozniakas Tournament this March. The 18-year-old local No.1 had the height advantage against France’s Warren Tchoffo but his opponent boxed also over his level in their meeting. Hermann had to use all of his previous experience, routine and skills to win the key semi-final of the men’s 80kg.
The surprise of the day
Isabell Dezel is not the most experienced German female boxer in the U19 national team but she had the strong game plan against Ukraine’s Uliana Ovsepian. The German did not afraid of her well-experienced Ukrainian opponent and she made impressive efforts to surprise Ovsepian in their 57kg semi-final. Dezel finally won two rounds on the scorecards which guaranteed a place in the title contest for her in Frankfurt an der Oder where she will now meet Martina De Felice of Italy.
The team of the day
Hungary’s Patricia Petriman and her Ukrainian opponent, Diana Dudyn both were medallist in the previous editions of the European Boxing Championships during their early stages of career. The Ukrainian was a hard opponent and Dudyn landed several strong punches from closer distance but Petriman had the control technically and tactically well enough to join the finals of the women’s 51kg. Her opponent for the title will be a well-known athlete, Josefin Rovira Rifaterra which could be an anticipated re-match between them.
Georgia’s Emil Ismailovi is a tall and technician boxer with more than 100 contests during his career but he proved his development in terms of strength and condition in this Brandenburg U19 Cup. The 17-year-old Georgian had an advantage against Poland’s Adrian Drewnowski on the judges’ scorecards after two rounds and he finished the job in the third with heavy combinations. Ismailovi’s final opponent will be a regional challenge for him, Azerbaijan’s Nihat Gasimov who eliminated Oleksii Kolbaia of Ukraine.
Georgia’s next flag bearer in the national team, Luka Chkhikhvadze expected a hard battle against Azerbaijan’s Shahin Aslanov therefore his coaching staff prepared to this 65kg semi-final as best as they can. The boxer from the blue corner met with strong resistance from Aslanov’s side and he needed new instructions from his coaches. The Georgian gave it everything in the last period and he has done enough to meet Ukraine’s Nazar Kliuchko in the final of the division.
Germany’s Justin Kiz has a name already in the international competitions therefore Georgia’s Goga Bregvadze did not underestimate him in the semi-final of the 75kg. Kiz felt the support of the local boxing fans, he had the stamina and good tactics to beat the Georgian athlete today. Germany’s hope at the middleweight will be boxing for the gold medal with Ukraine’s 18-year-old Konstantin Khalitskyi who achieved a silver medal in their recent U19 Nationals.
France’s southpaw Lenny Legagneur competed mostly in national events in the recent two years but he received the right to represent his country in the Brandenburg U19 Cup. The French talent used this opportunity to put himself into the spotlight in this event and he had a clear dominance over Germany’s Ahmed Nada today. Legagneur will not be able to match with Georgia’s Zurab Oboladze in terms of number of bouts in the final of the 85kg but his strength could be decisive between them.
Cinnia Hoffman of Germany delivered a sensational result in the quarter-finals when she eliminated Azerbaijan’s European U19 silver medallist Banuchichak Nasirli but she had still the gunpowder to beat another top opponent today, Poland’s Katarzyna Gornisiewicz. The final verdict was 3:2 split decision in the favour of the German and she will now meet Italy’s Michela Guglielmon for the title of the women’s 48kg.
Lithuania’s European Junior medallist Jelizaveta Jakimova is in fantastic shape this year and she had a strong game strategy against Italy’s Mary Favi Korynne who defeated one of the gold medal contenders in the quarter-finals. The Lithuanian had the fantastic rhythm and the pressure to beat the Italian today and she will have another top rival as next, Poland’s Zuzanna Golebiewska at the 54kg final.
Azerbaijan’s Subhan Babayev returned to the Brandenburg U19 Cup after one year and he had the big target to reach the top of the podium this time. Babayev faced his teammate, Toghrut Guliyev in an important selection contest before the European U19 Boxing Championships. Babayev kept the focus until the last bell and he defeated his compatriot which means that he needs only one further step against Artur Pichka of Ukraine to succeed.