Taipei, May 17, 2015: 35 bouts took place from the Xinzhuang Stadium on the second day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, with many spectacular contests among them.
Bout of the day
Ukraine’s 15-year-old Karolina Makhno is one of the most powerful Junior boxers in the world, with more than 50% of her bouts finishing inside the distance.
The undefeated star arrived in Taipei as the favourite of the Junior Middleweight class (75 kg), and lived up to her reputation with a stoppage victory over US Junior National Champion Amanda Bermudez.
Makhno dominated the opening round with constant pressure against the tough US boxer, and after more supremacy in round two, the referee stopped their contest midway through the frame.
Team of the day
Six Russian boxers competed on the second competition day in Taipei, and all remained undefeated after the action had finished.
Junior National Champion Valeria Rodionova began a day of phenomenal success for Russia with a victory against Vietnam’s two-time National Champion Ha Thu Hong.
Anastasia Selina then controlled all of the rounds against Italy’s Manuela Bressan in their Bantamweight class (54 kg) bout.
Junior Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer Ekaterina Dynnik defeated Kazakhstan’s Salima Tleubayeva by unanimous decision, before Karina Ivanova beat Turkey’s Cagla Aluc in a narrow bout.
Russia’s Youth Bantamweight class (54 kg) number one Umeda Saidova then outperformed Chinese Taipei’s Wu Shih Yi in an outstanding contest, while Russia’s sixth boxer to triumph was four-time National Champion Elizaveta Nemtseva, who dominated her contest against Hungary’s Dorina Papp.
Surprises of the day
Kosovo’s Donjeta Sadiku took part in the EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships in Assisi, Italy last year, but she was not the favourite against Switzerland’s multiple international tournament winner Naomi Gertsch in Taipei.
Despite her underdog status, Sadiku displayed a remarkable fighting spirit in their intense contest, and won by split decision despite the warning she received in the final round.
Ireland’s Kelsey Leonard received a tough task in her first match of the competition when she was drawn with Wang Chin Hsin.
Leonard’s opponent was cheered rapturously by the watching crowd as she was a home favourite, but she succumbed to the fluid counter-attacks of her Irish rival and lost the bout.
Ones to watch
Bulgaria’s EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships silver medallist Emi-Mari Todorova turns 16 tomorrow, and celebrated in style with a victory over Romania’s Junior National Cup winner Cristina Aciobanitei.
Todorova had gold medal expectations before the Championships, and her opening performance proved she has got a realistic chance to achieve that goal.
Italy’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion and Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist star Irma Testa used her height advantage successfully against Chinese Taipei’s Liu Chia Chun, while teammate Giovanna Marchese knocked down Thailand’s Pakamart Suepsoda en route to a dominant points win.
Fact of the day
35 Youth and Junior bouts were held on Day 2 in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Championships Taipei 2015, where the Asian and European boxers particularly excelled.
Quotes of the day
“Kelsey Leonard was one of our boxers that we knew could perform well in the Championships as she has been showing good promise at home, and we brought her to France to give her some international experience before this competition.
“It is always hard to fight against a home boxer in the opening match, so we tried to concentrate on quick counter-attacks. I know this surprise element is now out of the bag, but I believe Kelsey will be able to raise more eyebrows in these Championships,” commented Irish head coach Liam Brereton after Kelsey Leonard’s triumph in the Junior part of the competition.
“I am very happy, the emotions are strong in our sport! In the second round my body started to respond properly and I realized that my opponent was losing a bit of her security, so in the third round I felt confident about myself. Now I am thinking about the next match and looking forward to it, I’m excited to keep improving every time,” said Italy’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Irma Testa after her opening success.
Tomorrow’s program
The third competition day of the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 will consist of 54 contests, with 22 Junior and 32 are Youth bouts. —- AIBA
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