The men’s semi-finals are also concluded at the European U19 Boxing Championships in Loznica today and the full final line-ups are revealed.
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 session
Italy’s European U17 Champion Daniele Fabi is one of the top stars of the entire European U19 Boxing Championships but he was 100% focused in his semi-final at the 60kg when he met Ireland’s Kalib Walshe. The Italian had unpredictable footwork and same strong counter-attacking tactics as in the previous rounds but Walshe also adopted the world-class rhythm of their semi-final. The 17-year-old Italian needed a fantastic finish to beat the tough Irish today but he advanced to his second European final where his last opponent will be Azerbaijan’s Ali Baghishov.
The surprise of the session
Ukraine’s Nazar Kliuchko had excellent victories during his road to the semi-finals in Loznica and he tried to overcome Belarus’ Bahdan Shashlykou in the attacks as in his previous bouts. The Belarusian coaches prepared with a strong strategy today which was based on Shashlykou’s longer hands and physical skills. The Belarusian talent destroyed Kliuchko’s defence in the second round and he finished that in the third with an unexpected stoppage which means that he will now face England’s new sensation, Yashua Flemming at the 65kg.
The Round-Up
Scotland’s Aaron Sarwar missed the Four Nations Championships this June therefore he could not meet Ireland’s flag bearer, the European U17 Champion Kristian Jubani before Loznica. The two promising stars faced each other in the first semi-final of the men’s 50kg and the Irish was punctual in the opener to take the lead. The Irish southpaw will turn 17 only later this year and he uses the event as an active preparation for the Youth Olympics. Jubani had a fantastic game play and he will meet for the title another sensational boxer, Georgia’s Shalva Beridze.
England’s Rueben Huczmann was highly confident in the first round against Romania’s Denis Aurel Alexandrescu and he opened their exchanges with heavy combinations. The English had unstoppable attacks in the second round and after the second standing count the referee confirmed Huczmann’s RSC victory. The English 55kg boy will be boxing for the gold medal with Russia’s Islam Magomedov who had a close semi-final against Ukraine’s Oleksii Kolbaia.
Georgia’s Akaki Basaria arrived to the European U19 Boxing Championships as the titleholder of the men’s 70kg weight class and he advanced to the semi-finals once again after the Ostrava edition. The 18-year-old Georgian started the first round slightly better than Ukraine’s Bohdan Kozak and he received also the right instructions from his coaches, Mr. Shalva Dundua and Mr. Levan Guledani in the break. Basaria delivered his best performance in Loznica with perfect timing and his final opponent will be another powerful pugilist, Ireland’s John Maher.
Germany’s Justin Kiz had the height advantage in his semi-final at the 75kg against Ukraine’s Konstantin Halytskyi and he had the tactics based on that. The German used his strong jabs to keep his Ukrainian opponent on long in the first and he repeated that performance in the second round as well. Kiz followed the instructions from the first seconds until the last with a perfect performance and he can prepare to his European final against Russia’s Kirill Shinkar.
Germany’s next ace in the semi-finals was Dietrich Hermann, the tallest boxer of the men’s 80kg weight category in Loznica. The Danas Pozniakas and the Brandenburg Cup winner German had a hard job against Russia’s Prokhor Startsev and he could not use his longer hands effectively in the first round. The 18-year-old Russian analysed the German boxer well enough before their semi-final and he knew what to do against Hermann today. Startsev will have a dream final against Italy’s Tiberio Nocadello who had the closest possible points decision success over Georgia’s Davit Mkhetsadze.
Russia’s Kirill Korshakov and Belarus’ Nazar Stalchuk both made remarkable performances in the previous stages of the European U19 Boxing Championships. Korshakov used his right-handed jabs several times in the first round and those punches reached the target area, resulting a Russian advantage after three minutes of fight. Stalchuk stepped into the gas in the second round but Korshakov found his best rhythm once again in the decisive third round to secure Russia’s fourth spot in the men’s finals. The Russian will be boxing for the gold medal of the 85kg weight class with Spain’s Samuel Antezana who walked over to the title bout.
England’s Albe Dowell competes in his first ever European Boxing Championships but he boxed over his previous levels in all of the fights in Loznica. The English talent stopped Latvia’s Markuss Reke in a quick contest but his opponent looked also satisfied with the bronze medal at the 90kg. Dowell will have a hard challenge tomorrow in the final as his last rival will be Russia’s experienced Temirsultan Temirsultanov.
Russia’s Ivan Baibakov had a crucial battle in the quarter-finals against Romania’s Denis Cucu which was the early final of the super heavyweight. Following that amazing bout, which he turned back, the Russian had an easier contest against the Belarusian, but he can expect a real battle against Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khomenko.