THREE British boxers guaranteed themselves medals at the womenโs World championships on Tuesday (October 10) in Ulan-Ude, Russia. Lauren Price, Karriss Artingstall and Demie Jade Resztan are all through the semi-finals.
European Games gold medallist Price has beaten Indian middleweight Saweety to reach todayโs quarter-final. She took an at times awkward split decision victory over Saweety but was in good form by the time she took on Lithuaniaโs Iveta Lesinskyte. Price made use of her speed, landing quick jabs, waiting poised before firing in her southpaw cross. She could settle into a rhythm and make sure of a unanimous decision, switching her stance and growing in confidence throughout.
At 57kgs Karriss Artingstall had to contain belligerent Uzbek Yodgoroy Mirzaeva. Artingstall backed off, landed solid right jabs. Mirzaeva charged in and when she held Artingstall on the ropes the Uzbek hurled hooks round the Britonโs defences. The big, clean shots however came from Artingstall. She clattered her left cross into Mirzaevaโs chin. Artingstall came through to take a unanimous decision and bag her first World championship medal.
Demie Jade Resztan, recently included on the GB squad, joined her team-mates in the semi-finals. Resztan took a split decision win over Italyโs Roberta Bonatti to win their 48kgs quarter-final.
Scottish 64kgs Megan Reid had a good tournament to reach the final eight but Chinaโs Dan Dou arrested her progress, beating Reid on a unanimous decision.
Irelandโs Amy Broadhurst and Christina Desmond were both denied medals. Broadhurst lost a unanimous decision to Finlandโs top seeded Mira Potkonen. At 69kgs Turkeyโs Busenaz Surmeneli took a unanimous decision over Desmond. Christina had beaten Canadaโs Myriam Da Silva Rondeau on a unanimous decision to reach this quarter-final. Broadhurst had progressed with unanimous points victory over Polandโs Aneta Rygielska.
In the preliminary stages Russian 57kgs Liudmila Vorontsova eliminated Michaela Walsh on a split decision. Irish flyweight Ceire Smith lost a split decision to North Koreaโs Chol Mi Pang.