THE Strandja tournament in Bulgaria concluded on Saturday (January 25). The USA entered a strong team as their boxers look to win selection for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers. This tournament is part of their selection process, with their squad of 13 who will go to the Americas qualification event (in Buenos Aires March 26-April 3) set to be announced soon.
Her gold medal victory therefore looks to be crucial for Virginia Fuchs. She met US rival Christina Cruz in the 51kgs final and won by split decision. Ireland also had two boxers in this division. Ceire Smith lost a unanimous points verdict to Fuchs in the quarter-final, while Carly McNaul lost her first bout to Italyโs Olena Savcjuk, also by unanimous decision.
At welterweight the USAโs Oshae Jones [pictured below] won another impressive gold medal. She beat Germanyโs Nadine Apertz on a split decision in her first bout in Bulgaria, a good win and went on to defeat Franceโs Emilie Sonvico in the final on a unanimous verdict. In her first bout Sonvico had outscored Americaโs other welterweight Che Briana on a split decision.
The USAโs Naomi Graham also won the 75kgs category. She began her tournament outpointing Russiaโs Elena Gapeshina on a split decision. Then she beat Panamaโs former World champion Atheyna Bylon, also on a split, before beating Irelandโs Aoife OโRourke unanimously. In the final Graham defeated Davina Michel of France on a split decision.
America had two good boxers in the menโs 69kgs division but neither Delante Johnson nor Freddy Rojas secured a medal. Johnson beat Italian veteran Vincenzo Mangiacapre on a split and Irelandโs Aidan Walsh unanimously before he had to pull out of the tournament. Franceโs Wahid Hambli stopped Rojas inside two rounds. Hambli went on to win the gold medal. Second Irish welter Kieran Molloy lost a unanimous decision to Indiaโs Duryodhan Singh Negi.
At 57kgs Irelandโs Michaela Walsh beat Americaโs Guadalupe Gutierrez on a split decision but was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Indiaโs Sonia Lather on another split points verdict. Americaโs Andrea Medina had to settle for the silver medal at 57kgs, overcome on a split decision by Ukraineโs Iuliia Tsyplakov in the final.
Ireland had two strong boxers in the lightweight division. However Finlandโs Mira Potknonen eliminated both. The Finn secured a unanimous decision win over Amy Broadhurst and moving on eventually to the final she met Kellie Harrington. Potkonen beat the former World gold medallist on a split points verdict.
Irish featherweight Kurt Walker met experienced Ukrainian Mykola Butsenko in the quarter-final, losing a split points verdict. But Walker was positive, saying afterwards, โGreat two fights out here in Bulgaria. Performed well and right where I want to be before the Olympic qualifiers in March.โ
Ireland also had Dean Clancy in the same division. He lost his first bout at the Strandja to eventual gold medallist Francesco Maietta of Italy by unanimous decision.
At 63kgs Irelandโs George Bates lost to Indiaโs Shiva Thapa on a unanimous points verdict. His team mate at the same weight Wayne Kelly was also in the competition, beaten by Italyโs Paolo Di Lernia on a split decision.
Fearsome Ukrainian Oleksandr Khyzhniak won the menโs middleweight division. Irish 75kgs Michael Nevin lost his first bout to Brazilโs Hebert Souza on a split decision.
Bulgariaโs Radoslav Pantaleev, who boxed for the British Lionhearts franchise in the World Series of Boxing, won gold in his home country at 91kgs.
At super-heavyweight Italian veteran Clemente Russo is still going. He unanimously outpointed Antoine OโGriofa in the opening contest. American super-heavy Richard Torrez reappeared with a unanimous win over Indiaโs Narender but had to withdraw from the competition. His US rival Antonio Mireles lost his first bout to Franceโs Dini Aboudoi Moindze Djamili, a unanimous decision.
Overall the United States won six medals, three gold, two silver and one bronze, with most of their success coming from their womenโs team. They were second on the medals, which Ukraine led with 10 medals in total.