male boxers could compete in ten weight categories in the Mediterranean Games and the girls fought for the six available titles in the final day in Oran, Algeria. Italy, Turkey and Serbia claimed gold medals for the European nations in the Mediterranean Games. Serbia’s Vladimir Mironchikov, Italy’s Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine, and Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli all were among the gold medallists but Federico Serra was one of the bests in Oran.
Altogether 145 boxers competed in the Mediterranean Games and the level of the event was high as many of the champions, medallists from top events, participated in Oran. Such boxing powers as Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Syria participated in Oran with their strong teams.
The next edition of the Mediterranean Games will be held in Taranto, Italy in four years, in June 13-22 in 2026.
The bout of the day
Serbia’s first historic medallist in a Men’s Elite World Boxing Championships was Vladimir Mironchikov who earned a bronze in Belgrade last November. The ex-Russian boxer competed at the cruiserweight (86kg) at the recent EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships in Yerevan but he moved back to the light heavyweight to participate in Oran. The Serbian No.1 advanced to the final of the Games and he had a tough battle against Algeria’s veteran Mohamed Houmri. Mironchikov landed his shots with perfect timing and his skills were enough to take the gold medal of the Mediterranean Games, the lone one for Serbia.
The Round-Up
Italy’s Giordana Sorrentino surprised all of the experts in 2020 with her rapid development and she qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Italian is relatively small at the light flyweight (50kg) but she has aggressive style of boxing and works from close range. Sorrentino joined the travelling team to the Mediterranean Games and she defeated one of her main rivals, Spain’s IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Laura Fuertes in the semi-finals. Sorrentino continued her winning path and her pressure delivered a gold medal for her against France’s 2021 EUBC European U22 Champion Romane Moulai.
Turkey’s Hatice Akbas is a new sensation at the bantamweight (54kg) who amazed at the EUBC U22 European Boxing Championships first, then at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. The Turkish girl continued her winning path and she bagged her third big title in 2022, following her success over Montenegro’s 19-year-old Bojana Gojkovic in the final. Two-time Women’s World Champion Busenaz Surmeneli won the next Turkish gold medal at the Mediterranean Games, she defeated Algeria’s Ichrak Chaib in the final of the women’s welterweight (66kg).
Italy’s Federico Serra is 28-year-old but he is in his career’s best shape this year which he proved in all of the previous competitions. Following his bronze medal at the EUBC European Men’s Elite Boxing Championships, he proved amazing performance in Oran, beating all of his three rivals. The Italian flyweight boxer eliminated Spain’s defending EUBC European Champion Martin Molina in the quarter-finals and his final opponent, Morocco’s Said Mortaji was not able to adopt the rhythm. Serra landed stronger shots and he felt that he can decide their final contest quickly and his great run paid off in the first round, stopping the North African boxer.
Turkey’s Batuhan Ciftci qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games but after that he decided to move up to the featherweight (57kg). The Turkish boxer felt the tempo in his final against Algeria’s experienced Oussama Mordjane and won the title of the Mediterranean Games. Italy’s Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine achieved the last European gold medal at the Games, he defeated his main rival, Spain’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Emmanuel Reyes already in the quarter-finals. The reigning EUBC European Champion at the heavyweight was too quick and smart for Algeria’s Mohamed Said Hamani and earned the next gold medal for Italy.
