Junior Euros 2023: Team England equal medal haul on Day Seven

Team England equalled their Junior European 2022 medal haul on day seven of the EUBC Junior European Championships 2023 in Ploiesti, Romania, guaranteeing they’ll bring home 11 medals from the tournament.

Four female England boxers were in action on day seven, all with the opportunity of securing a place in Sunday’s finals day.

First up was District Youth’s Ruby Cuthbertson, who faced a boxer with the home crowds backing in Romania’s Silvia Meltzer.

Despite Ruby’s youthfulness, the Under 46kg demonstrated coolness personified, deploying an economic shot selection to glide her way into Sunday’s final via a unanimous points decision.

Next up for England was Sturminster Newton’s Ruby White, who faced Poland’s Nadia Formela for a place in the Under 48kg final.

The reigning Junior European Champion showed she was in no mood to give up her title anytime soon, producing a commanding performance in the opening round to put her in pole position.

Ruby forced a standing eight count in the second, adding to a dominant performance as she secured at least a silver medal via unanimous decision.

Broadplain’s Hollie Haskins was next to take to the ring, facing Under 50kg Turkish boxer Emel Okay.

With the scorecards tight going into the final round, Haskins worked tirelessly to overcome a strong southpaw opponent, securing her place in the final via a 4-1 split decision victory.

The final female boxer for Team England on the day came in the form of Worcester City’s Caitlyn Wise.

Wise faced off against traditionally tough opposition in the form of Ukraine’s Taisiia Pokusai for a spot in the Under 52kg final.

As ever, Caitlyn gave her all but, despite her best efforts, found herself out-hustled by a tough Ukrainian as she bowed out of the competition via a unanimous point decision defeat.

Despite this, Caitlyn will take home a bronze medal for herself, Team England and her club Worcester City.

England rounded out Session One with the first of their three scheduled male boxers as Humza Malik came up against Armenia’s Amo Darchinyan in an Under 46kg quarterfinal.

The Repton boxer demonstrated stunning ringcraft, avoiding incoming shots from his Armenian foe.

With two rounds going in favour of Malik, he avoided his ever-desperate opponent in the third and final round to secure a 4-1 split decision victory and at least a bronze medal to boot.

In the first of two Battle of Britain bouts, Ropes & Glory’s Adam Maca took on difficult opposition in Taylor McMahon of Scotland.

The reigning Junior European Champion was made to work hard against a tall, rangy and focused Scot, but his power and determination would be the difference as he secured a 4-1 split decision victory and at least a bronze medal.

Team England’s final representative of the day Paul Coyle took on Alfie Lewis of Wales in the other Battle of Britain bout.

The Under 60kg southpaw counterpunched crisply throughout the bout to win every round of his third contest of the EUBC Junior European Championships.

It was the St Mary’s boxer’s best performance of the tournament so far as he advanced via a unanimous decision victory, securing at least a bronze medal in the process.

Day Eight bouts

Morning Session

Bout 2: Female, Under 57kg – Ginevra Muzzi (Italy) v Ella Lonsdale.

Bout 18: Male, Under 46kg – Humza Malik v Nearchos Konstantinoudis (Greece).

Bout 22: Male, Under 50kg – Oskar Grodzicki (Poland) v Mohammad Safari.

Afternoon Session

Bout 6: Male, Under 57kg – Vladyslav Zheleznov (Ukraine) v Adam Maca.

Bout 8: Male, Under 60kg – Paul Coyle v Daniel Grigorie (Romania).

Bout 14: Male, Under 70kg – Fabian Urbanski (Poland) v John Joe Carrigan.

Bout 19: Male, Over 80kg – Leon Majer (Romania) v Leo Atang.