Dhariyal, Viitanen, Igharo, Smith, Bos and Sevehon all defeated strong rivals in the semi-finals of the Tammer Tournament
Indias Aarti Dhariyal, Finlands Vilma Viitanen, Irelands Evelyn Igharo, Englands Mary-Kate Smith, Netherlands Finn Bos and Australias Marlon Sevehon were the heroes of the semi-finals at the 46th edition of the Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland.
The Tammer Tournament was launched in 1977 and the city of Tampere hosted the Mens Elite World Boxing Championships in 1993. Tampere was the host of the 2000 edition of the European Mens Elite Boxing Championships and Olympic qualification events.
Following the sessions on Friday and on Saturday, the finals will take place on the All Saints Day on November 1.
The bout of the day
Switzerlands Anna Jenni began her road at the Tammer Tournament on Day1 with a clear success and she made a strong effort to be competitive against Ankushita Boro, one of the Indian stars. The Swiss girl had a brilliant game play in Tampere and she was near to beat the 26-year-old Indian, a former Youth World Champion on Day2. Boro will be meeting for the title of the womens 65kg weight class with Englands Ella Thompstone, who won her second contest in the event against Irelands Linda Desmond.
The surprise of the day
Australias Marlon Sevehon had to miss the Commonwealth Games this summer but he keeps his focus on the next national selection events to regain his place in the squad. The Aussie boxer controlled most of the exchanges against Indias Akshay and he secured his spot in the final of the mens 80kg. Sevehons next opponent will be Englands Oliver Male who won his second contest in Tampere on Day2.
The Round-Up
Indias Aarti Dhariyal, the winner of the annual Golden Belt Tournament, started her campaign at the Tammer Tournament with a clear success on Day1 and she continued the winning path against Brazils Ana Livia Linhares in the semi-finals of the womens 54kg weight category. The powerful Indian will meet for the title another athlete from the Commonwealth nations, Scotlands experienced Stephanie Kernachan who eliminated a French U23 national team member, Aya Hamdi.
Irelands Evelyn Igharo had amazing junior and youth results but she had a few poor years after these amazing achievements. She returned to the national elite team this year and she reached the quarter-finals at the recent European Elite Boxing Championships. The Irish boxer was too strong for Finlands Zabrina Holmstroem and due to the stoppage, Igharo will now face for the gold medal of the womens 70kg weight category with Indias Commonwealth Games winner Arundhati Choudhary.
Englands Mary-Kate Smith is relatively a smaller boxer at the womens 75kg division but she used her fighting spirit and attacking style of boxing in all of her previous bouts in 2026. She received the right to compete also in the major events and she kept the focus from the first seconds until the last to catch Indias Imroz Khan with heavy shots. Smith will be fighting for the title of the Tammer Tournament with Finlands Veera Tuomikoski who uses the event as last preparation before the European U23 Boxing Championships.
Indias 32-year-old veteran in their male squad, Mohammed Hussamuddin had a tough semi-final battle in Tampere, he had to do his very best in his second appearance in the event. The Indian, who joined the elite national team 10 years ago, had a strong test against Netherlands Mahmoud Al Chabtoun, but he won their contest by split decision. Following his tight success, Hussamuddin will meet Irelands Adam Hession who dominated his semi-final over Australias Darcy OMalley.
Finlands Vilma Viitanen earned several top results between 2017 and 2024 but she stopped her boxing career when she was unable to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The 25-year-old Finnish decided to return to the world of boxing this year and she is now a finalist in the Tammer Tournament. Viitanen eliminated Frances European U19 Champion Maloe Teresi and she will now meet Indias reigning World Champion Jaismine Lamboriya for the title of the womens 57kg weight class.
Irelands two-time Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington had a teenage rival first, Swedens Lili Arman, and she had to meet another 19-year-old athlete as second, Englands Ella-Mae Lonsdale at the womens 60kg semi-final. The Irish veteran had to do her best to beat the English teenager which was one of the best contests of the second competition day. Harringtons final opponent will be Brazils Victoria Gomes Barbosa in Tampere and she has never met the South American previously.
Finlands European bronze medallist, their best male boxer, Ismail Umar eliminated Indias Vivek Meena and he will now meet Frances strong Mohamed Ounai for the title of the mens 65kg weight class. Netherlands Finn Bos proved his progress and he defeated also an Indian boxer, Hitesh in the semi-finals therefore the Dutch will have another big challenge in the final of the 70kg, to face with Brazils Thauan Lima da Silva.