Five boxers make the EUBC Youth European finals

Five boxers have reached the finals of the EUBC European Championships after scoring unanimous decisions in their semi-finals.

Conner Tudsbury claimed the first medal of the competition for England after losing to Naichel Millas (ITA).

60kg Caroline Dubois (ENG) v Stefanie von Berge (GER) – won 5:0

The double Junior European Champion, Dubois was drawn to face the tall, awkward German Champion. This was always going to be a tough bout with the height and reach advantage the German carried. Dubois scored well in the first with her back hand and took a cagey first round on the score cards. The German responded in the second and caught Dubois with straight two punch combinations as the English girl tried to get inside her long reach. No doubt, this was a close bout and following sharp instructions from the English corner, Dubois, responded positively in the third. Dubois ‘s southpaw straight back left hand now started to find its mark along with her lead hand hooks. On the final bell a relieved English Champion received the result she craved and along with it a place in the European Youth Championships 60kg final. The judges scored a unanimous 5-0 result for England. Dubois will now face the Russian in the final tomorrow.

64kg Gemma Richardson (ENG) v Lanna Maliuganova (RUS) – won 5:0

Richardson was drawn against the strongly fancied Russian boxer in the semifinal of the 64kg category. This didn’t deter the English Champion who put in what was the performance of the Championship so far. She was simply exceptional, using every shot in the book allied to slick movement and a tight defence. She took the centre of the ring and used straight lead hand/back hand/lead hand hook three punch combinations to score consistently throughout the bout. Always changing her angles of attack, the Russian was chasing shadows for most of the bout. When she needed to, she worked well inside and rocked the Russian with upper cuts and vicious body shots. The English girl was determined to leave nothing to chance and worked tirelessly to the final bell. At the final bell Richardson got what she truly deserved and was returned a 5-0 unanimous decision on the judges’ cards. She will now face the Irish representative tomorrow in the European Youth Final.

64kg Sebastian Terteryan (DEN) v Hassan Azim (ENG) – won 5:0

Azim stepped through the ropes to contest his fourth bout in seven days against a talented Danish Champion. The first round was a close affair as both boxers struggled at times to find their range however it was the English boxer who found his rhythm first and following two powerful straight backhands forced the referee to give the Dane a count. That swung the bout Azim’s way and he responded well in the second using straight one/two combinations to the Danes head. Azimfinished the round with a flourish and caught his opponent flush on the chin with a powerful left hook. The Dane battled well and took Azim all the way to the final bell however at the bouts conclusion, it was the jubilant English competitor that had taken the spoils by a unanimous score of 5-0 and will now face the Russian boxer in the gold medal match up.

52kg Ibrahim Boukedim (FRA) v Hope Price (ENG) – won 5:0

Our third representative in the semifinals did a very professional job on his game French opponent. Price boxing with his usual confident swagger, used his superior footwork and razor-sharp southpaw combinations to boss this one from start to finish. He used his lead hand hook to move his opponent on to his rear hand and relied on lightning quick straight one/two combinations to the Frenchman’s head. This was the pattern for all three rounds however the stand out shot for Price was his lead hand “bolo” body shot which he whipped into his opponent’s solar plexus. The judges gave all three rounds to the Englishman and Price moved into the European Youth Final by a unanimous score of 5-0. He will have his hands full with the talented Irish Champion, Clancy, in the final.

81kg  Karol Itauma (ENG) v Temuri Kimadze (GEO) – won 5:0

The Georgian was a formidable opponent for the young English boxer to face in this semifinal. Karol took this challenge in his stride and performed really well throughout the three rounds. The Georgian struggled with Itauma’s southpaw style and was forced into a count in the first round following a powerful straight lead hand jab, rear hand follow up to the head. Itauma grew into this bout as it unfolded, continued to move well and delivered powerful combinations with great accuracy. In round two, Itauma, unleashed the standout combination of the bout. A rear hand uppercut, lead hand hook followed in by a straight backhand to the Georgian’s head rocked him and shifted the final place closer to the English boxer. On the final bell, Itauma had booked his place in the final in his first major international competition by a unanimous score of 5-0. Itauma will now meet the Russian in the final.

75kg Conner Tudsbury (ENG) v Naichel Millas (ITA) – lost 5:0

This was a tough task, boxing one of the home nation favourites in front of a big partisan crowd. Fortunately, Tudsbury is not one to be intimidated and boxed with skill, passion and controlled aggression throughout the three rounds. The Italian was an awkward character who used slick footwork to keep away from the English boxer’s powerful onslaughts and countered with some good combinations himself. The first round appeared to be Tudsbury’s following some big backhand shots from the Englishman however in the second, the Italian scored well with some quality counter attacks. This was a contest that never really flowed and was definitely a close bout to call. In the third, the Italian looked to tie up the dangerous English boxer and was content to just smother Tudsbury’s work to the final bell. The judges came down on the side of the Italian boxer and returned a unanimous 5-0 verdict to the home boxer. Tudsbury should be really proud of his performances at this year’s Youth Europeans and of course his bronze medal.