Strong North Macedonian start at the European U22 Boxing Championships

The first competition day saw 24 preliminary bouts at the European U22 Boxing Championships which opened in Budva, Montenegro today.  

Boxers who were born in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 are eligible to compete in the current European U22 Boxing Championships.

Ireland’s Donagh Keary is not an experienced international-level boxer yet but the featherweight (57kg) boxer exceeded the expectations in Budva and he eliminated Spain’s Juan Pantoja by split decision. His compatriot, James McDonagh bowed out a dangerous rival today, Turkey’s Bilge Kagan Kanli at the light welterweight (63.5kg).

North Macedonia built up a strong U22 team in the previous period and their World Championships competitor Alen Rustemovski had the strength and stamina to beat Hungary’s Kruzito Kovacs at the featherweight (57kg). His teammate, Arjan Iseni also succeeded in the opening competition day, de eliminated Poland’s Sebastian Kusz at the light heavyweight (80kg).

Germany’s 22-year-old David Gevorgian is a technician boxer, he has excellent skills which he proved in his opener against Romania’s Ionut Chiriac in Budva where he controlled all of the three rounds by confidence.

Serbia’s Aleksej Sendrik was quarter-finalist at the European Games this July and the 20-year-old ex-Russian has strong goals in Budva. Sendrik had the technical advantage against Italy’s Giacomo Giannotti and he can prepare to the next preliminary round.

Spain’s Frank Martinez developed strongly this year and he arrived in Budva with confidence after his promising results. The Spaniard won all of the three rounds in each scorecard against Georgia’s Giorgi Zhorzholiani and he managed to join the Round of 16 at the light middleweight (71kg).

Greece’s European Youth Champion Michail Tsamalidis joined the U22 and elite age groups this January and the 19-year-old talent had the strong performance against Moldova’s Valeriu Razmerita in the first preliminary round.