Ukraine’s Nazar Kliuchko, Germany’s Oliver Herz and Spain’s Aaron Santurio won the tightest preliminary battles at the European U19 Boxing Championships Loznica, Serbia during the afternoon session on Day2.
Altogether 354 boxers from 36 nations are participating for the 20 titles and the 80 available medals in the European U19 Boxing Championships.
Boxers who were born in 2008 and in 2009 are eligible to participate in the European U19 Boxing Championships in Loznica.
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine are the participating nations in Loznica.
The bout of the day
Ukraine’s Nazar Kliuchko performed well in his last preparation tournament before the European U19 Boxing Championships but he had a seriously competitive rival, Spain’s Pablo Souto in the Round of 32 of the 65kg. The scores were almost equal after two rounds of fight between them therefore the last three minutes were the decision making today. Souto moved forward in the last round to catch the taller Ukrainian but Kliuchko kept him long to win this crucial battle.
The surprise of the day
Romania’s European U17 silver medallist Florin Nelu Ulmeanu and Germany’s Oliver Herz knew each other from previous competitions and both prepared well tactically to this key Round of 32 contest at the men’s 65kg. The German used his jabs better in the first round and four out of the five judges favoured him after three minutes of fight. Herz closed the second round with a strict jab which supported to increase his advantage and to win this hard contest in Loznica.
The Round-Up
Ireland’s Jason Maher and Slovakia’s Sebastian Chocholacek both have strong international results from the past therefore they had a close contest today. The Irish used his distance slightly better in the first and second rounds and he had a tight advantage on the judges’ scorecards after six minutes of fight. Maher, who began boxing in 2019, had nice uppercuts in the third round and he won their Round of 32 bout by 4:1 split decision which means the Irish will now meet Hungary’s European U17 Champion Istvan Czifra.
Belarus’ Bahdan Shashlykou joined the U19 age group this January after a successful junior career in his homeland. He moved up also to the 65kg which was perfect for his physical condition and he started well against Serbia’s Petar Sandic in the Round of 32. The 17-year-old Belarusian had the best performance in the third round when the Romanian referee counted the Serbian boy therefore Shashlykou can prepare to the Round of 16.
Georgia’s Luka Chkhikvadze is a titleholder in the European U19 Boxing Championships and he opened his campaign successfully against Switzerland’s Loris Vona in the Round of 32 at the 65kg. The 18-year-old Georgian was confident in this preliminary bout and he used his longer reach well to beat the best Swiss U19 boxer today. Sweden’s Wilmer Ekblom Olsson dominated his opener against Estonia’s Artur Kondratenko and the 17-year-old won that preliminary by RSC.
England’s Yashua Flemming is one of the rising stars in their U19 national team who was the favourite against Lithuania’s Arturas Majauckas in the Round of 32 at the 65kg. The English boy, who has 38-1 record from the past, shocked his Lithuanian opponent after two minutes and knocked the Baltic athlete down. Following his serious body shots, the referee stopped their unequal contest in the first round and Flemming marched to the last 16.
Robert Buzas was a quarter-finalist in the last edition of the European U19 Boxing Championships representing Hungary and he switched back to Romania this year. The 18-year-old boxer started slowly against Poland’s Kewin Trukawka but he was more punctual in the second round. The Polish boxer did not give it up and he attacked without any stoppage in the third period but this was perfect for Buzas and the Romanian marched to the last 16 at the 70kg weight class.
Bulgaria’s Vladimir Davidov spent a short time in the ring today, he destroyed Israel’s Orel Kikis in a short preliminary bout at the 70kg. The referee confirmed his RSC success after the second standing count and the Bulgarian advanced to the last 16 in Loznica. Hungary’s Levente Turos, the winner of the annual Bornemissza Memorial Tournament, controlled the first and second rounds well enough to win his preliminary against Albania’s Riduan Gashi.
Spain’s Aaron Santurio had a very difficult but successful mission against Armenia’s Samvel Aslanyan due to his great finish in the next 70kg bout. Georgia’s titleholder, Akaki Basaria also opened his campaign in this weight category, the 18-year-old boxer was tactically better than Israel’s Artur Eytan Prohnevsky today. Ireland’s John Maher continued his nation’s winning path in Loznica, he bowed out Azerbaijan’s Rza Rzayev in this weight class.