One of the most exciting parts of a competition, the semi-finals featured at the Boxam Elite Tournament in La Nucia, Alicante region today. Ukraine, England and host Spain were the best countries among the European nations during the semi-finals while Kazakhstan and India impressed
Altogether 90 women and 124 men boxers from 21 nations and four continents are participating for the 20 available titles in Spain’s boxing city.
The bout of the day
Spain’s Pablo Coy recovered from his serious injury last November and he used the recent two months to reach his previous level of boxing. The local boy tried to keep Ukraine’s Pavlo Illiusha on long and he landed nice hooks in the first round to take the lead on the scorecards. The Ukrainian switched into a high rhythm in the second and he overcame Coy in the attacks several times to turn back their semi-final.
The surprise of the day
Kazakhstan’s Nurzat Ongarov returned to the Boxam Tournament as a titleholder of the competition but he suffered an unexpected loss in the semi-finals of the men’s 50kg. Spain’s teenager, Ismael Maghraoui exceeded all of the previous expectations and he won their tough semi-final bout by 4:1 split decision. The Spaniard will now meet another Kazakh boxer for the title, the two-time World Champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay.
The Round-up
Marta Lopez del Arbol is one of the best elite female boxers in Spain with eight years of international routine and she started well against Kazakhstan’s Youth World Champion Yelyanur Turganova in the first round. The Spaniard was patient, waited for the best attacking moments and she had the massive advantage on the scorecards after two rounds. Lopez, who found back her way to the 48kg, and she managed to beat the 19-year-old Kazakh therefore she can meet for the title India’s Manju Rani.
Noelia Gutierrez was born in a boxing family and she started her career as a small child in the city of the historic Cordoba. She turned 19 a few months ago and she had an even younger opponent in the semi-finals of the 51kg, Ukraine’s Taisiia Pokusai. The Ukrainian was taller but Gutierrez had the speedy actions to win their semi-final bout today which means that the Spanish teenager will be able to test herself against India’s Nitu for the title.
Ivy-Jane Smith had an excellent junior and youth career in the 2010s and after a few years of hiatus, she returned to the national team. The English southpaw was not only active but she surprised India’s Youth World Champion Poonam in the first round with her attacking style of boxing. The 23-year-old Indian found the right tactics against Smith in the second round and she turned back their 54kg semi-final bout.
Netherlands’ Gabriella Weerheim won two contests already in the Boxam Tournament and she bowed out her third rival out of her way today. The 20-year-old Dutch was better rounds by rounds and she had the clear success over England’s Vivien Parsons therefore she will face for the gold Thailand’s Asian Champion Punrawee Ruenros at the 57kg.
Ukraine’s Tetiana Dovhal had an excellent success in the quarter-final of the women’s 60kg and she met a powerful Asian opponent, Thailand’s Thananya Somnuek in the last four today. The 21-year-old Ukrainian kept her Thai rival on long in most of the exchanges and she gave in 110% to win this incredible semi-final. She claimed a silver medal in La Nucia at the Youth World Boxing Championships and she is a finalist in a Spanish event once again.
Ukraine’s Anastasia Taran is another youngster in their national team but she was so successful in the U17 and U19 age groups. The 18-year-old boxer worked from longer distance against France’s Andrea Badin and her tactics paid off in the first and second rounds. After her solid advantage on the judges’ scorecards, she saved some fuel for the finals which will be a tough one against India’s Arundhati Choudhary.
England’s Ellis Trowbridge had two very tight contests during his road to the semi-finals of the men’s 55kg weight category. The English met one of the surprise winners of the division, Canada’s Maximus Tomines and he prepared well against the North American youngster. Trowbridge managed his bout very well, he controlled the first and seconds and he saved fuel for the upcoming final in the third.
Ukraine’s tough Elvin Aliyev amazed in the first round against Spain’s Paris Olympian Oier Ibarreche and his opponent’s ringside abandoned their semi-final at the 65kg. His teammate, the former World Champion Yuriy Zakharieiev returned to the business in top shape and he performed strongly in the first round against Kazakhstan’s Aman Konsbekov. The Ukrainian was not able to repeat that performance in the second and third rounds therefore the Kazakh eliminated him in that 75kg semi-final.
The quote of the day
“I was a bit nervous in this semi-final because I got a bye in the quarter-finals and this was my first bout in the Boxam. I have already experience to fight against Indian boxers but I know I will have a hard job tomorrow against Manju Rani. I will do my best to make my team proud,” said Spain’s Marta Lopez del Arbol after her semi-final.