Women
Poland topped the women’s medal table at the European U23 Boxing Championships Poland topped the medal table in the women’s part of the European U23 Women’s and Men’s Boxing Championships in Budapest after all of the 10 female finals have concluded. Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales were the participating nations. England’s Kelsey Oakley and Poland’s Natalia Kuczewska had an equal first round in the opening female final of the championships. The 22-year-old former Youth World silver medallist Polish stepped into the gas in time to beat the English southpaw at the 51kg final. Turkey’s Cam Nilay Yaren started the first round better than her neighbour, Greece’s Antonia Giannakopoulou and she had the advantage on the scorecards. The Turkish girl continued the same performance in the final and she celebrated an emotional gold medal in Budapest. Poland’s Olympic and World silver medallist Julia Szeremeta had a difficult opener in the preliminaries in Budapest but following that, she was too smart for her opponents, including the Polish-born Natalia Fasciszewska of Ireland in the final of the 57kg. Ukraine’s Youth World silver medallist Tetiana Dovhal had some tactical difficulties in the first round against Czechia’s lone finalist Barbora Maxova but from the second, she found the best range and she earned a gold medal for her nation. England’s Kayla Allen started the year with a silver medal the Boxam Tournament in Spain and she finished that with a gold in Budapest where she landed the stronger punches than Romania’s Crinuta Andra Sebe at the 65kg title bout. Poland’s Barbara Marcinkowska dominated the 70kg final over Germany’s Emely Dittrich and following that, Norway’s Olympian Sunniva Hofstad also was too strong for her opponent, Ukraine’s Olha Pylypchuk today while Emilia Koterska continued Poland’s winning path. Hungary’s Zsofia Szira stopped Turkey’s Hikmetgul Turkmen and she earned her second European title among the heaviest boxers. Nurselen Yalgattekin became the winner of the last female final, which was the best in the day, she defeated Lilla Szeleczki in the next Turkey vs. Hungary battle.
Men
Rosenov and Yasar defended their thrones while Hungary earned its first ever U23 male title Bulgaria’s Radoslav Rosenov and Turkey’s Emrah Yasar defended their thrones at the European U23 Boxing Championships in Budapest where Hungary earned its first ever male title in the front of the home crowd. Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales were the participating nations. Azerbaijan’s Subhan Mamedov bowed out the defending champion, Ireland’s Louis Rooney in the semi-finals of the 50kg weight class and he became the first male winner in Budapest following his success over Ukraine’s Maksym Rudyk. France’s Izaya Gaucher had a superb semi-final performance and he eliminated Ukraine’s star, Maksym Zymenko and his last round was decisive against England’s Abdul-Rahmaan Burton at the 55kg final bout. His teammate, Junior Tadah was too strong for Lithuania’s Arnas Kazakevicius and he managed France’s second title in Budapest. Bulgaria’s sensation, Radoslav Rosenov achieved a bronze medal in Liverpool and he was unstoppable for all of the opponents in Budapest. The 22-year-old Bulgarian was a genius in the ring against Turkey’s Mehmethan Cinar and he claimed his fourth U23 title, and his eighth European gold in total. Ukraine’s first male gold medal was achieved by Artur Kuzmenko who succeeded over Bulgaria’s 19-year-old Viktorio Iliev at the 65kg final while Romania’s UK-based Daniel-Raj Stoican had the successful mission against Georgia’s Luka Nikabadze at the 70kg. England’s Bobby Colin Wallace won their Elite Nationals this year and he continued his golden pathway in Budapest where he had the strong strategy to beat Bulgaria’s more experienced William Cholov at the 80kg final. Turkey’s No.1, Emrah Yasar was dominant from the first seconds against Germany’s Kevin Lebowski and he defended his U23 throne at the 90kg in Budapest. England’s Damar Thomas controlled the final of the heaviest weight class from the first seconds and he underlined that he is better than Croatia’s Marko Perkovic. Hungary’s Youth World silver medallist Levente Gemes delighted the host country in the last male final of the entire championship, he had a seriously tight final against Italy’s promising Gabriele Guidi Rontani at the 75kg.
