The EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships started in the Armenian capital in Yerevan city with twelve preliminary contests. The winners of today’s bouts advanced to the last 16 at the lightweight (60kg), middleweight (75kg) and light heavyweight (80kg). Hungary’s Robert Cservenka proved that he is a strong puncher and made a revenge against Austria’s Marcel Meinl due to his loss at the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem.
Altogether 219 boxers from 39 nations are fighting for the 52 available medals in the Armenian capital. The EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships is held at the 13 official weight categories: 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63.5kg, 67kg, 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 86kg, 92kg and +92kg. Mr. Adam Kusior of Poland is the Technical Delegate of the EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships in Yerevan.
The EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships will continue with two sessions and 28 bouts at the Karen Demirchyan Sports Complex tomorrow on Tuesday.
The bout of the day
Finland’s Nikita Nystedt is only 20-year-old but he participated at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Belgrade and he is one of the strongest members of their elite national team. The Finnish light heavyweight (80kg) boxer started the first minute with aggressive attacks against Georgia’s Georgiy Gutsaev but his opponent finished the period with hard shots. Gutsaev was also born in 2002 as the Finnish boxer and he had the youthful enthusiasm to land dozens of shots in the second round. Nystedt had the strong fighting spirit and stamina but Gutsaev’s longer reach was the decisive factor between them today.
The surprise of the day
England’s George Crotty won several international tournaments during his career and he received the right to compete for his country in big championships last year. Crotty is a member of the British Marine Commando and he had outstanding preparations for this championship with fantastic sparring partners. The English light heavyweight (80kg) boxer overcame Ukraine’s Ivan Sapun in the attacks and he performed strongly in the first round. His Ukrainian rival received strong advice in the first break and his second round was more effective and successful. The promising Sapun moved a lot in the second part of the bout and he was able to turn back their narrow preliminary bout.
The Round-Up
Austria’s Marcel Meinl defeated Hungary’s Robert Cservenka on his last preparation event, at the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem three weeks ago. The 22-year-old Austrian faced the Hungarian once again in a re-match on the first bout of Ring B in the opening bout of the middleweight (75kg). The taller Austrian tried to keep the distance and he succeeded in the first round with his counter-attacks taking the lead on the judges’ scorecards. The Hungarian maintained the fighting distance better in the second round and his aggressive tactic paid off in that period. The Spanish referee counted Meinl following Cservenka’s powerful left-handed jabs and the ringside doctor stopped their contest which meant the Hungarian made a revenge due to his previous loss.
Georgia’s best middleweight (75kg) boxer, Giorgiy Kharabadze injured before the start of the championship and he was replaced by a younger talent, Otar Naveriani. His replacement was smaller than his Israeli opponent, Daniel Ilyushonok but he used aggressive tactics to control the preliminary contest. Naveriani produced an energetic first round in their Round of 32 bout and he had the advantage after three minutes. Ilyushonok performed better only in the third round but Naveriani’s stronger punches decided today’s contest.
Norway’s Mindaugas Gedminas participated at the European Games and at the World Boxing Championships therefore he had the experience against Greece’s Konstantinos Petropoulos. The Norwegian was 15cm taller than his returning Greek opponent and he tried to keep the best fighting distance today. Their Round of 32 contest at the middleweight (75kg) was a tough challenge for both boxers but Gedminas’ experiences decided their contest today.
Spain’s Miguel Cuadrado returned to the national team after he recovered from his injuries and he had excellent preparation for this EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships. The Spaniard caught Ireland’s Gabriel Dossen with tough shots in the end of the first round but his opponent controlled most of the exchanges. The 23-year-old Irish had longer hands and he used them effectively in the first and second rounds today. The former AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Irish boxer developed in terms of strength and tactical skills well enough to win his first bout in Yerevan.
Armenia’s first boxer in action was Vakhtang Harutyunyan who replaced Arman Darchinyan in the national team. He controlled the first round well against Poland’s Bartosz Golebiewski and took the lead on the judges’ scorecards. The Armenian had excellent double defence in the bout and his right-handed hooks were always dangerous for the Polish boxer. Harutyunyan won their contest by unanimous decision which delighted the crowd and advanced to the last 16 in Yerevan
The quotes of the day
“I feel myself well enough and in good shape since we arrived in Yerevan. I was confident from the first seconds and I knew what the best weapon against the Greek boxer was. I had the advantage after the first round and my Greek opponent had to move ahead more which was perfect for me. We prepared to neutralize his strategy with my coaches and I could finish this contest in the second round,” added Slovakia’s experienced Viliam Tanko who opened the championship with a quick success. “I could not find the best fighting distance in the first round but I followed the new instructions in the second period. I landed more jabs in the second round and I was planning to fight until the last gong but the ringside doctor stopped the contest. I will meet a Scottish boxer and I am planning to take a revenge against him,” said Hungary’s Robert Cservenka after his RSCI victory.
