The President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Dr Ching-Kuo Wu paid tribute to the ‘magnificent new champions’ on the final day of the 8th Women’s World Championships in Jeju, Korea.
Dr Wu said: “The standard of competition here in Jeju has been magnificent, so our new World Champions can leave for home knowing that they are truly the best boxers in the world today.”
The new 2014 Women’s World Champions are:
Light Fly (45-48kg): KYZAIBAY Nazym, Kazakhstan
Fly (51kg): ESPARZA Marlen, USA
Bantam (54kg): PETROVA Stanimira , Bulgaria
Feather (57kg): DOBRYNINA Zinaida, Russia
Light (60kg): TAYLOR Katie, Ireland
Light Welter (64kg): BELIAKOVA Anastasiia, Russia
Welter (69kg): BYLON Atheyna, Panama
Middle (75kg): SHIELDS Claresa, USA
Light Heavy (81kg): YANG Xiaoli, China
Heavy (+81kg): MAGOMEDALIEVA Zenfira, Russia
Speaking after the finals, Dr Wu said: “Since its historic launch at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Women Boxing has become hugely popular all around the world – and this is conclusively demonstrated by the enormous wealth of talent that has competed here in Jeju.”
“The development of Women Boxing has been one of my top priorities ever since my election as President of AIBA. When we announced that Women boxers would compete at the London Olympics in 2012, many people doubted whether it would work. But instead, the Women Boxing competition proved to be one of the greatest successes of the entire Games.
“Now, just two years later, all multi-sports Games will have Women Boxing Competitions. And our intention is that Women Boxing will, in future, also be an integral part of both our new APB and WSB competitions.”
As the competition closed, Dr Wu expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Boxing Association of Korea (BAK) and its President, Mr. Yoon Seok Chang, as well as to the Governor of Jeju Special Self-governing Province, Mr Heeryong Won, for organising and hosting such a successful event and to the Championship Supervisor and AIBA Executive Committee member, Terry Smith, from Wales.
“The organization, as well as the setting of these 8th Women’s World Championships were superb. I am very grateful indeed for all the huge efforts that have gone into making sure the Championships ran smoothly. And I am very grateful to the Governor and the people of Jeju for the warm welcome they have extended to everyone coming to their beautiful island,” said Dr Wu.
In total, 280 competitors from 67 countries took part in the Championships in all of the 10 AIBA Women’s Elite weight categories. China, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Russia and the US each competed with the maximum number of 10 Women Boxers.
In total, European boxers won 21 medals, Asian boxers 13 medals and six boxers won medals from the Americas. Russia dominated the medals table with five (including 3 champions) and China with four (with 1 champion) as well. Italy, Turkey and the US won three medals each; Azerbaijan, England, France, India, Kazakhstan and Thailand each won two medalists; and Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Panama, Philippines and Ukraine won one medal apiece.
The exciting semi-finals took place today in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, and Jeju, Korea was treated to a masterclass in boxing from each participant.
Both London 2012 Olympic Champions competing in the Championships made it through to their respective finals, as Ireland’s Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields of the United States are both in the hunt for another major honour.
The most successful nation of the semi-finals were Russia, who have four boxers competing for gold medals.
Bout of the day
US teenage star Claressa Shields has won the London 2012 Olympic Games, the 2013 AIBA Women’s Youth World Championships, plus the 2012 and 2014 AMBC American Women’s Continental Championships, and is looking to add the only title that is missing from her collection, an AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship.
The 19-year-old Middleweight class (75 kg) has been undefeated since May 2012, and continued her winning streak to reach the final after an engrossing contest against Canada’s two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Ariane Fortin-Brochu.
The 30-year-old boxer claimed a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August, but had to settle for bronze in Jeju after being defeating by Shields, who used her lethal jabs and power to unsettle her North American rival, who in turn competed strongly until the end of their absorbing battle.
Shields will now fight for the gold against China’s Li Qian who surprisingly eliminated Netherlands’ EUBC European Women’s Continental Champion Nouchka Fontijn in the second semi-final.
AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Jeju
Team of the day
Among Asia’s leading boxing nations, India had two boxers in the semi-finals and both of them advanced to the finals of the Championships in Jeju.
Firstly, AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion and current National Champion Shamjetsabam Sarjubala Devi was able to secure her place in the final of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) following her wonderful performance against Thailand’s Taipei City Cup winner 21-year-old Chuthamat Raksat.
Their second final place and victory on Day 7 was delivered by Saweety Boora, who is competing in her first ever international competition.
The Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) boxer, who trains in India’s most successful boxing region in Haryana, was too strong for Ukraine’s last remaining boxer, Anastasia Chernokolenko.
Surprises of the day
Bulgaria’s Stanimira Petrova joined their national team in 2012, and the 23-year-old has achieved her career highlight in advancing to the final in Jeju.
Her opponent in the last four was Russia’s AIBA Women’s World Champion Elena Savelyeva, who began the bout with great footwork, but her Bulgarian opponent was patient enough to wait for the best attacking moments in their contest, and eventually won via split decision.
Following that great win, the Bulgarian Bantamweight class (54 kg) will now meet with Italy’s Marzia Davide in the final.
Yana Alekseevna was born in Ukraine but she joined to the national squad of the Azerbaijan last year, and since then she won the Women Boxing Days in Hamburg and secured a valuable silver medal at the Feliks Stamm Memorial Tournament in Warsaw.
The 27-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer was not at her best in the first round against France’s EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships silver medallist Estelle Mossely, but a clever change of tactics saw her control the middle part of the contest using her counter-attacks to stop Mossely’s forward pressure.
Mossely turned up the heat in the final round, but her efforts were not enough to eliminate Azerbaijan’s new sensation in Jeju.
Panama’s South American Games silver medallist and Independence Cup winner Atheyna Bylon was an unknown boxer two years ago, but the 25-year-old boxer was invited to the ‘AIBA Road to Jeju’ program, and there her coaches decided to move down a category into the Welterweight class (69 kg).
She has already written history in Jeju when she was able to win Panama’s first ever bout in a women’s AIBA Championships, and she then went on to defeat two further opponents and advanced to the semi-finals.
Bylon was incredible once again in her bout against Azerbaijan’s AIBA World Championships silver medallist and defending EUBC European Women’s Continental Champion Elena Vystropova, as Panama’s powerhouse able to use her reach superbly well, and the fairytale continued for her as she won the contest against her decorated opponent.
Ones to watch
Italy’s Marzia Davide is one of the most experienced athletes in Korea, and she claimed a silver medal at the 2002 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Antalya, Turkey.
The 34-year-old Bantamweight class (54 kg) boxer has lost only one bout over the past 18 months, and won the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest this June.
Davide was at a different level to her Turkish opponent Ayse Tas, and 12 years on from her silver medal, the Italian is looking for a golden opportunity in Jeju.
Ireland’s London 2012 Olympic Champion and four-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Katie Taylor walked over to the semi-final following her main rival Russia’s Sofya Ochigava’s injury, and the 28-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer had to meet with China’s Asian Games winner Yin Junhua in the semi-finals.
Much of Ireland stops to a standstill when Taylor fights, and she did not let her passionate fans down as her hooks were especially potent against an exciting opponent.
The Chinese ringside threw in the towel at the beginning of the fourth round, and Taylor will now meet Azerbaijan’s southpaw Yana Alekseevna for her fifth gold in a row.
AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Jeju
Stat/Fact of the day
Russia was the most successful nation after the quarter-finals, and they were able to keep that excellent position following the twenty semi-finals contests as well.
Hosts Korea secured a historic first bronze medal in the AIBA Women’s World Championships on home soil.
The following nations have boxers in the gold medal bouts:
Russia: 4 boxers
China, England, India, Kazakhstan, United States of America : 2 boxers
“I am delighted to be in another final. I was surprised that the towel came in, but it looked like she hurt her hand in the third round. The plan was just plenty of feints. Sometimes you have to be really patience against those kind of boxers. These kind of matches are just like a chess match. It is a game of patience most of the time. I am looking forward to the challenge tomorrow,” said Ireland’s living legend Katie Taylor after her semi-final triumph over China’s technician Yin Junhua.
“I am very happy that I won my fourth bout here in Jeju and I am in the final of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. My semi-final opponent, Russia’s Elena Savelyeva was a very good fighter but inside in the ring I knew that I won the close bout. I will try to do my best against the Italian boxer tomorrow and hope to get a further triumph in the Campionships,” commented Bulgaria’s new flag-bearer Stanimira Petrova after her triumph.
Tomorrow’s program
The finals are scheduled for the last competition day of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, Korea on Monday.
The schedule of the finals on Monday:
48 kg: Shamjetsabam Sarjubala Devi IND – Nazym Kyzaybay KAZ
51 kg: Marlen Esparza USA – Lisa Whiteside ENG
54 kg: Marzia Davide ITA – Stanimira Petrova BUL
57 kg: Nesthy Petecio PHI – Zinaida Dobrynina RUS
60 kg: Katie Taylor IRL – Yana Alekseevna AZE
64 kg: Anastasia Beliakova, RUS – Sandy Ryan ENG
69 kg: Atheyna Bylon PAN – Saadat Abdullaeva RUS
75 kg: Claressa Shields USA – Li Qian CHN
81 kg: Saweety Boora IND – Yang Xiaoli CHN
+81 kg: Zenfira Magomedaliyeva RUS – Lazzat Kungeybayeva KAZ
The sixth competition day of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, Korea saw the winners of the quarter-finals achieve at least a guaranteed bronze medal, with two London 2012 Olympic Champions advancing to the last four in the event, as Katie Taylor walked over to the semi-finals, while US teenager Claressa Shields defeated a tough Russian boxer on Day 6.
Bout of the day
China’s Yin Junhuao only began her boxing career in 2009, and she needed only three years to join the national squad shortly after the London 2012 Olympic Games.
She won the gold medal at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, and the 24-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer has returned to Korea to win another medal in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Her third opponent in the event was Bulgaria’s EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships bronze medallist veteran Denitsa Eliseeva, who is one of the few boxers to have defeated Ireland’s Katie Taylor during her storied career.
The Chinese boxer displayed tremendous footwork in the contest, which gave her an amazing elusive ability, and Eliseeva’s punches reached mostly air in their contest.
Yin Junhua showcased a wide range of attributes throughout the four rounds, and she is a definite gold medal contender based on her performance here.
Team of the day
Two of Thailand’s great prospects Sopida Satumrum and AIBA Women’s World Championships bronze medallist Tassamalee Thongjan were eliminated in the preliminaries in Jeju, but two of their younger teammates have advanced to the semi-finals and achieved guaranteed medals in the event.
Their Light Flyweight class (48 kg) number one and Taipei City Cup winner Chuthamat Raksat won Thailand’s first bout on the sixth competition day in Jeju, and she had to be at her very best to beat Chinese Taipei’s new sensation Ping Meng Chieh, who eliminated the current AIBA Women’s World Champion Josie Gabuco of Philippines in the previous stage of the event.
Thailand’s second medal was delivered by Southeast Asian Games winner Sudaporn Seesondee, with the Light Welterweight class (64 kg) boxer reaching her career highlight following a narrow triumph over Czech Republic’s Martina Schmoranzova.
AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Jeju
Surprises of the day
Bulgaria’s London 2012 Olympian Stoyka Petrova won the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships earlier this year where she defeated London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams of England, which gave the 29-year-old Flyweight class (51 kg) boxer a lot of confidence coming into Jeju.
Petrova had to face Italy’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Terry Gordini in the quarter-finals, and though the Bulgaria tried to control the bout, a spirited effort from the veteran Italian, and a warning given to Petrova saw a surprise win for Gordini in Korea.
South American Games silver medallist and Independence Cup winner Atheyna Bylon secured Panama’s first ever triumph in the history of the AIBA Women’s World Championships on Day 2, and after making it two wins, she had to meet with Turkey’s EUBC European Women’s Youth Continental Championships silver medallist Guluzar Kara for a guaranteed bronze medal.
Panama’s pride used her reach very well, and the confidence she had gained during the Championships was evident in her fluid fighting style, and stiff jabs.
A star has been born in Korea, with Bylon becoming a national hero in her native Panama, winning the first medal for her country in an AIBA competition.
India’s Saweety Boora won their National Women’s Championships one month ago, and the young Indian Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) boxer faced Croatia’s EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships Anamarija Marsic in the quarter-finals, who had previously eliminated one of the gold medal contenders Kazakhstan’s Yulduz Mamatkulova.
The Croatian boxer started the bout better, but Saweety Boora improved as the rounds went on, and her lethal punches delivered an unexpected medal for her in Jeju.
Ones to watch
Ireland’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Katie Taylor is looking for her fifth AIBA Women’s World Championship in a row, but was matched in Jeju with Russia’s former two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Sofya Ochigava whom she had previously faced in the final of many tournaments.
Taylor went into the quarter-finals with a 3-1 record over the Russian, but never got the chance to make it 4-1, as Ochigava was forced to pull out before the bout due to an injury.
Ireland’s hero will no doubt be frustrated by the situation, and will want to display her superior skills in her semi-final contest.
Azerbaijan’s Elena Vystropova claimed a silver medal at the last edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao at the Middleweight class (75 kg), and the 26-year-old boxer has since moved down to the Welterweight class (69 kg) where she won the gold medal at the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest.
Following two triumphs in Jeju, she boxed for a guaranteed medal against AMBC American Women’s Continental Champion Danyelle Wolf.
The US boxer tried to control their tactical bout, while Vystropova used counter-attacks to negate her tough opponent.
A cagey and technical affair saw defensive masterclasses from both fighters, and the narrow fight was eventually awarded to Vystropova by split decision.
Netherlands’ Nouchka Fontijn won this year’s continental championships in Bucharest, and arrived to Jeju as a secret favourite of the Middleweight class (75 kg).
The last remaining Dutch hope met with Morocco’s African Women’s Cup winner Khadija Mardi, who was herself the lone African boxer in the quarter-finals.
Fontijn dominated all of the rounds against her opponent and secured her well-deserved place in the semi-finals.
AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Jeju
Stat/Fact of the day
All of the ten competing Russian athletes reached the quarter-finals in Jeju, and five of them managed to reach the semi-final stages.
Only Asian athletes advanced to the semi-finals of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg), which proved their dominance at the lowest category.
The following 21 nations have got at least one boxer left in the semi-finals:
Russia: 5 remaining boxers
China: 4 boxers
Italy, Turkey, United States of America: 3 boxers
Azerbaijan, England, France, India, Kazakhstan, Thailand: 2 boxers
“I am super satisfied with my performance on my third contest here in Jeju. My tactic was to keep the distance and I tried to follow the instruction of my coach. I am feeling great joy to get a medal for my proud country, Panama in a World Championships,” commented Atheyna Bylon who has written history in Jeju.
“I am fine in this prestigious competition, well-relaxed and I concentrate only on the next step in the Championships. I am satisfied with my result in advancing to the semi-finals. My opponent, the Chinese boxer was a very good in technique but I was able to beat her with my lot of movements and perfect timing in the attacks,” said Italy’s defending EUBC European Women’s Continental Champion Marzia Davide who eliminated China’s Gao Jinyan in the quarter-final of the Bantamweight class (54 kg).
“The Japanese team supported me well prior to my semi-final contest, therefore I was able to step into the ring in perfect shape. I am very happy, beating a Russian boxer is always a hard job for everybody in the world. That was only one step, and I want to win my next semi-final bout as well,” explained Japan’s 19-year-old Madoka Wada who defeated Russia’s Zoia Isaeva in the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) in Jeju which was her third triumph in the championships.
“To win a battle, first of all, you have to believe in yourself and secondly you do not have to undervalue your opponent. My today’s tactic was to control the fight from the first seconds,” said Bulgaria’s new hope Stanimira Petrova who advanced to the semi-final following her triumph over France’s Marina Rostan.
Tomorrow’s program
Following a rest day, the semi-finals of the 8th edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships will be held in Jeju on Sunday.
Forty-eight preliminary bouts were held on the third competition day of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, and Day 3 delivered some huge surprises, including a shock defeat for titleholder Josie Gabuco who was eliminated by Chinese Taipei’s Pin Meng Chieh.
Elsewhere, Katie Taylor successfully negotiated her way through the first round, and started her journey to anticipated final glory in Jeju.
Bout of the day
China’s Xu Shiqi was a silver medallist in the last edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao on home soil, and arrived to the island of Jeju as a gold medal contender.
Her first opponent was one of Europe’s best Light Flyweight class (48 kg) boxers, Bulgaria’s Sevda Asenova, who bagged a silver medal at the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest this June.
Asenova has been a member of the national squad since 2006, but it was the less experienced Xu Shiqi who tried to control their bout from the start, while Asenova used her best weapon, quick counter-attacks to negate the Chinese boxer.
The Bulgarian was always in the fight, but the 23-year-old Xu Shiqi had the extra quality, and won the close bout which was the best of the day.
Team of the day
Ireland’s Michaela Walsh claimed a valuable silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer where she was a competitive rival for England’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams in the final of the event.
The 21-year-old Irish star has moved back to the Bantamweight class (54 kg) and showcased her excellent technique in Jeju, where she was too smart for Jamaica’s experienced athlete Sarah-Joy Rae.
Ireland’s Katie Taylor won the London 2012 Olympic Games, and the last four editions of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, so therefore she is the top favourite in Jeju.
The 28-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) star won all of the rounds against ‘AIBA Road to Jeju Program’ member Valerian Spicer.
The venue of Women’s World Boxing Championships Jeju 2014
Surprises of the day
Philippines’ first AIBA Women’s World Champion Josie Gabuco has moved back to her original category, and fights in the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) in Jeju following her appearance in the Asian Games.
Her first opponent was Chinese Taipei’s Pin Meng Chieh who has also moved down one weight class, and is competing in her fourth AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Chinese Taipei’s technical boxer had won only one bout in her three previous World Championships, but she was able to shock the current AIBA Women’s World Champion on Day 3.
Gabuco controlled the first round, but Pin Meng Chieh excelled in the rest of the contest, and eliminated the star of the category.
United States of America has many excellent boxers in Jeju, and their Bantamweight class (54 kg) number one Christina Cruz was the bronze medallist in the last edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao.
Cruz bagged a silver medal at the AMBC American Women’s Continental Championships two months ago, and opened with great punches against Bulgaria’s Stanimira Petrova who is a new face in their national squad.
The American battled hard to control the contest, while Petrova worked from the longer range, with her hooks an especially potent tactic.
Both athletes dazzled in a spectacular last round, and finally Petrova’s hand was raised after the final bell in a surprise result.
Panama’s Independence Cup winner and South American Games silver medallist Atheyna Bylon is a tall boxer in the Middleweight class (75 kg), and she moved down one category just before the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Following her historical first success in Jeju, she had to meet with another top athlete in the second preliminary round in India’s Neetu Chahal who competed well in the last two editions of the Championships in Bridgetown and in Qinhuangdao.
The Asian boxer started better, but Bylon found the best fighting distance and continued her winning path in the Championships.
Action in Jeju
Ones to watch
Italy’s veteran athlete Marzia Davide was a gold medallist in the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in June, and arrived in Jeju as a gold medal contender.
The 34-year-old Bantamweight class (54 kg) boxer dominated the second round against Algeria’s African Women’s Cup of Nations silver medallist Nawel Hallou, and Davide is a definite contender in her weight class.
France’s EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships bronze medallist Marine Rostan also began her competition in Jeju, where she had to face with Laos’ lone athlete Mieovady Hongfa, who was another member of the ‘AIBA Road to Jeju Program’.
The Southeast Asian boxer has a huge fighting spirit ,but her defense was not organised enough to stop Rostan’s quick left jabs.
The French boxer tried hard to finish the bout early, but Hongfa was able to fight until the final gong, where Rostan won the bout by unanimous decision.
Germany’s Azize Nimani began her boxing career with nineteen victories, and the 23-year-old Bantamweight class (54 kg) boxer arrived to the Championships with great expectations, and proved her skills in her opening bout in Jeju.
Nimani competed against Canada’s experienced Vicky Pelletier, who could not reduce her height disadvantage, and the German’s jab was the key difference in an engrossing battle.
Stat/Fact of the day
Belarus won its first bout in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju where Helina Bruyevich achieved a victory, while the Hungarians were very unlucky in the competition, as all of their seven athletes lost their preliminary contests in the first three days.
Quote of the day
“I felt strong against the Australian boxer knowing I had my coaches and teammates support during the bout. I executed the plan that was given to me and I am ready for the next bout in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju. My target is the gold and competing in the highest level,” explained AMBC American Women’s Continental Champion Alexandra Loveto who was too strong for Australia’s Lauren Camilleri in her debut match.
Tomorrow’s program
The fourth competition day will be a further marathon program in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, where forty contests are to be scheduled on Wednesday.
The winners of the Flyweight class (51 kg), Welterweight class (69 kg), Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) and Heavyweight class (+81 kg) will advance to the Top 8, while the boxers of the Middleweight class (75 kg) also begin their competition in Jeju.
The AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships continued with a longer program in Jeju, Korea, where the program of the second competition day was split into two sessions.
Russia’s athletes were in fine form as all of their athletes defeated their rivals, and America’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Marlen Esparza won the bout of the day.
Bout of the day
In the absence of the two top favourites of the Flyweight class (51 kg) in England’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams and India’s five-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte, the strong US boxer Marlen Esparza is one of the main gold medal contenders of the category in Jeju.
The US star is only 25, but she has been a member of the national squad since 2006 when she bagged a bronze medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India.
Esparza has prepared well for the current AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, as she has successfully participated in nine tournaments this year, and she had to meet with Mongolia’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Nandintsetseg Myagmardulam in the opening round of the championships.
The American used aggressive tactics against the strong Mongolian boxer, who in turn demonstrated her quick combinations in the second round.
Excluding the second frame, it was the US boxer who controlled their top level and entertaining contest, and who won the battle of the day in Jeju.
Team of the day
Russia’s Sayana Sagatayeva won their National Selection Tournament in February, and the 24-year-old Flyweight class (51 kg) boxer has since only lost one bout, achieving gold medals in various international events.
The rising star arrived as gold medal contender for the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, and started her road to the finals against a tough European opponent, Germany’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Ornella Wahner.
Germany’s star boxer offered an excellent performance in the first part of their bout, but Sagatayeva stepped on the gas and raised the speed of the bout as it progressed, and eventually the Russian boxer’s efforts were enough to win the bout by split decision.
Zinaida Dobrynina joined to Russia’s national squad only last year, but she was able to win the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest in June.
The Featherweight class (57 kg) star had to meet with a tough opponent, Thailand’s Asian Indoor Games winner Peamwilai Laopeam in Jeju, and though the Thai boxer offered effective punches in the opening round, Dobrynina improved in the latter rounds, and eliminated her Asian rival.
Russia’s third triumph on the second competition day was delivered by former two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Sofya Ochigava, who is Katie Taylor’s main rival at the Lightweight class (60 kg).
Ochigava dominated her first fight in Jeju, as the 27-year-old athlete overwhelmed Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chia Ling and advanced to the last 16.
Action in Jeju
Surprises of the day
Turkey’s Elif Nur Coskun lost to Hungary’s Katalin Ancsin in the quarter-finals of the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest in June, but the Turkish boxer used better tactics against the experienced Hungarian athlete in Jeju, and she was able to strike back her previous loss in their rematch.
Ireland’s rising hope Michaela Walsh was a silver medallist in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where she was a competitive rival for England’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams as well.
The 21-year-old has returned to her original Bantamweight class (54 kg), but she was not able to repeat her recent excellent performances in Jeju, and she was outworked by China’s newcomer Lu Qiong.
Brazil’s Taynna Santos Cardoso won the AMBC American Women’s Continental Championships in Guadalajara two months ago, and defeated London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Adriana Araujo in the final of their National Championships.
The four-time AMBC American Women’s Continental Champion was the favourite in her opening bout against Germany’s Nina Meinke, but the German boxer achieved her best ever performance and advanced to the last 16, causing the biggest surprise of the day in Korea.
Ones to watch
Australia’s two-time National Champion Kristy Harris competed in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July, where she advanced to the quarter-finals of the event but failed in her guaranteed medal bout.
The 21-year-old Flyweight class (51 kg) boxer, who trains in the Collingwood Boxing Club, dominated her opening fight against Sri Lanka’s Clifford Cup winner Dulani Anuradha Jayasinghe Arachchi.
Switzerland’s Sandra Brugger claimed a silver medal at the 2007 EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Vejle, Denmark and following that she took further podium places from various international events.
The Basel-based Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer was too strong for Netherlands’ Mariska Janssen in the preliminary round in Jeju.
Stat/Fact of the day
India’s Pinky Jangra Rani replaced the injured Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte in their team, and she opened with a triumph over Si Haijuan, which was China’s first loss in the 8th AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Central American Champion, and rising hope of the region Atheyna Bylon won her opening bout which was Panama’s first ever victory in the history of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Quotes of the day
“I felt good, but I know I will feel better in my next bout in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju. That was my first fight since the Commonwealth Games and I know I was slow to get going, but soon worked out my opponent’s favourite punches and adapted from there in the rest of the contest. It was good to get the first fight out of the way, it always is. I am looking forward to fighting Brazil’s Clelia Marques Costa on Wednesday whom I have been comp sparring in the lead up to this championships,” commented Australia’s Kristy Harris.
“I was too slow in the whole bout against Turkey’s Elif Nur Coskun and my reactions were too late in the tactical situations. I tried to speed up my footwork, but I was not in enough shape to do my plans in the ring. My Turkish opponent prepared well after our first contest in June. I do not know what happened with me, it might be that I was not able to keep my energy after the long travel and my acclimatization was not successful,” said Hungary’s Katalin Ancsin after her loss.
Tomorrow’s program
A further 48 preliminary bouts will be held on the third competition day at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, Korea.
Winners of the Light Flyweight class (48 kg), Bantamweight class (54 kg) and Lightweight class (60 kg) will be secure heir places in the last 16, and Ireland’s London 2012 Olympic Champion and four-in-a-row AIBA Women’s World Champion Katie Taylor will be also in action on Day 3.
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