English team concludes European with six medals

The English team competing in Italy have come home with a total of six medals including three golds.

60kg Nune Asatrian (RUS) v Caroline Dubois (ENG) – won 5:0

This was an accomplished performance from Caroline Dubois, the unbeaten double European Junior Champion who was clearly enjoying her first year as a youth.  She put her Russian opponent under pressure from the first bell with her sharp southpaw lead hand jab and followed up with straight three punch combinations to the Russians head. It was a good first round for the English boxer and she picked it up still further in the second as she whipped in vicious body hooks. The Russian was given a count in the second round following a powerful backhand from Dubois and again the round belonged to the English. Into the third and Dubois could afford to move and frustrate her opponent, picking her off with lead hand southpaw hooks as she came in. On the final bell, a jubilant English Champion could now add the Women’s 60kg European Youth title to her vast collection as she returned a 5-0 unanimous decision on the judges cards.

64kg Evelyn Igharo (IRL) v Gemma Richardson (ENG) – won 5:0

Facing a taller, awkward opponent from Ireland did not faze Richardson at all. She set about her work with her usual high tempo work rate and never let the Irish rest for a minute. She consistently rocked her opponents head back with sharp left-hand jabs and worked well on the inside with body hooks and uppercuts. Richardson bossed the first round and picked it up still further in the second as she piled in with combination after combination. The Irish girl had no answer other than her long lead hand jab which in fairness did catch Richardson, particularly in the second round. Richardson came back, forced a count in the second following a wicked uppercut and a further count in the third with a powerful backhand which kept the Irish girl on the back foot from there to the final bell. Richardson, the reigning European Junior Champion, could now add the European Youth title to her collection. Our second gold medal of the day was won following a unanimous 5-0 score on the judges’ cards.

52kg  Hope Price (ENG) v Patrick Dean Clancy (IRL) – won 5:0

Time for another European Junior Champion, Hope Price from England. This was always going to be a tough contest between two very good boxers at the top of their game. The first was a bit scrappy as the Irish boxer looked to counter Hopey ‘s southpaw combinations and consistently fell into the English boxer. Price had delivered the cleaner shots and after another occasion of the Irish lad falling in, he was issued a warning from the referee for consistent holding. Price moved through the gears in the second round and caught the Irish boxer with sharp three punch combinations followed by a change of angle and rear hand lead. The round was clearly the Englishman’s with by far the cleaner work. In the third, Price’s trademark lead hand right hook came into play as he frustrated the Irish boxer to the bell with good footwork and sharp accurate shots. The teams third gold medal of the day came by way of a unanimous 5-0 score line.

64kg  Hassan Azim (ENG) v Ilia Popov (RUS) – lost RSC Rd2

Hassan Azim was drawn to face the multi-titled Russian Youth, Ilia Popov in the final of the 64kg category. The English boxer had warmed up nicely for this bout with some great performances during this tournament and entered the ring with a game plan and an air of confidence. The first round was a tactical masterclass as the lightning-quick southpaw Russia looked to land single powerful shots and Azim with his longer reach and height advantage fired out long straight two and three punch combinations that caught the Russian repeatedly. The second started the same as the first but with more urgency from both boxers and still, this young English boxer seemed to have the measure of his Russian counterpart. Midway through the round, Azim unleashed yet another straight left /right followed by a powerful backhand hook that landed but as he moved away the dangerous Popov caught him flush under the chin with a thunderous hook. Azim’s legs buckled and following the referee’s count, the bout was stopped.

81kg  Ruslan Kolesnikov (RUS) v Karol Itauma (ENG) – lost 5:0

Last but not least up for England would be Katol Itauma boxing in the light heavy weight European Youth final. His opponent was the formidable Russian who like to box on the back foot and looked to counter punch. Itauma started the round well with some accurate back hand straight shots followed in by his southpaw lead hand right hook. The first round was a cagey affair that was close as each boxer looked to find an opening. In the second, the Russian caught Itaumal with a vicious right hand uppercut but the English lad took that in his stride and responded well. His response was a double lead hand right jab followed by a back hand for a three punch combination that rocket the Russian. On the final bell, sadly for Itauma and England, the judges had seen the bout the Russians way by a unanimous score of 5-0.