Lithuania’s best male boxer, Aleksandr Trofimciuk defended his throne at the 30th edition of the Algirdas Socikas Tournament in Kaunas but Armenia’s duo as Ruslan Aslikyan and Davit Simonyan both were brilliant in the day of the finals. 
The six-time Soviet National Champion Mr. Algirdas Socikas was one of the heroes of Lithuania's boxing life in the past, who won the European Boxing Championships two-times in 1953 in Warsaw and he repeated it in 1955 in West Berlin. Lithuania’s most important elite international boxing tournament was named after their national boxing icon who earned gold medals in several other events too.
Armenia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Morocco, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and Tajikistan were the 13 participating nations in the Algirdas Socikas Tournament.
The bout of the day
Armenia’s Davit Simonyan had strong U19 results in the recent years and he had a relatively easy road to the finals of the men’s 90kg. He faced Scotland’s Robert McNulty for the title of the category and their meeting was named as the best fight of the final session. The young Armenian made a great finish which was still important for him to decide the bout and he defeated a fantastic Scot in Kaunas.
The surprise of the day
Another young Lithuanian talent, Vladimir Abramov, proved his impressive progress in all aspects of boxing in this Algirdas Socikas Tournament. He shined in the final of the 75kg when he landed multiple combinations and defeated Poland’s more experienced Lukasz Zygula in Kaunas.
The Round-Up
Lithuania’s European Championships bronze medallist Ana Starovoitova delivered a small surprise in the day of the semi-finals when she eliminated Scotland’s Bocskai Memorial Tournament Niamh Mitchell who is in top shape this year. The best Lithuanian female boxer had an easier tactical job in the final of the women’s 60kg against Poland’s Wiktoria Hass and she earned the first gold medal in Kaunas.
Lithuania’s Iveta Lesinskyte competed in several international events during her career and she regained her place in the top national squad. She opened her final at the women’s 75kg weight category better than Morocco’s Salma El-Hajjami and she had the advantage on the judges’ scorecards. Lesinskyte, who has been preparing also for the European Elite Championships as Starovoitova, claimed her first tournament title in 2026.
Scotland’s Aaron Cullen, the European U23 Boxing Championships silver medallist, had two victories on the road to the finals at the men’s 55kg weight category, but he met Armenia’s Ruslan Aslikyan for the title. The Armenian is a stronger puncher and he landed his shots from all of the angles and his pressure resulted a clear success for Aslikyan over a GB Team member talent.
Lithuania’s Edgaras Skurdelis decided to continue his boxing career last year and he competed in the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool as well. The 33-year-old boxer is aiming for the Los Angeles Olympics and on that road, he earned a title at the Algirdas Socikas Tournament after beating Raimondas Trapulionis at the 60kg.
The local Lithuanian organizers had to divide the boxers at the 65kg weight class into two groups due to the high number of participants. Armenia’s Artur Mkrtchyan controlled the first final against Switzerland’s Abu Abdo Magdy while the second gold medal of this weight was achieved by Scotland’s Leo Church. The Scotsman opened the final against Lithuania’s Nedas Gudomskas with heavy shots and his opponent’s ringside abandoned the fight in the first round.
Lithuania’s best male boxer, Aleksandr Trofimciuk, not only advanced to the final of the 70kg in Group A, but he managed his next success at the Algirdas Socikas Tournament. The 24-year-old Lithuanian was stronger in the exchanges than his teammate, Donatas Rokis, and he defended his throne in this international tournament.
Lithuania’s Edgaras Trotenskis had a great finish against Finland’s Jimi Noioso and he bagged the title of Group B at the 70kg. Lithuania’s super heavyweight ace, Jonas Jazevicius stopped Sweden’s Anton Borzsei in a one-sided and quick final bout.
Switzerland’s Diego Mazzarelli had great victories in Kaunas in the previous competition days and he had great efforts also in the final of the 80kg but Lithuania’s Arvydas Dainis was still too experienced for him. Moldova’s Ilia Valigurschii claimed the next title at the Algirdas Socikas Tournament, he controlled his 85kg final against Lithuania’s Lukas Steponaitis.