World-class semi-final battles at the Strandja Trophy Tournament

The semi-finals are always the exciting part of an event, and the sixth competition day delivered several world-class battles at the 77th Strandja Trophy Tournament in Sofia today.

Uzbekistan has two multiple Asian Champion female boxers at the 48kg weight class and their contest was also an important selection before the next Asian Championships which will be held in Mongolia. Their Sabina Bobokulova, the Paris Olympian, had some difficulties in the second round, but she was better in most of the exchanges today.

Uzbekistan’s Nigina Uktamova is another promising star from their 2003 age group, and she tried to reduce the fighting distance against Ireland’s Niamh Fay. The multiple Asian Champion Uzbek found the best range in the second round and despite Fay’s efforts in the third, Uktamova secured the place in the final of the 57kg.

Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree robbed into the world of boxing in 2023 when she won medals in big events. She moved down to the 75kg which is perfect for her and she gave in everything to her semi-final against Kazakhstan’s former World Champion Valentina Khalzova. Greentree mobilized all of her remaining power in the busy third round and she won one of the hardest bouts of her career today.

Brazil’s World silver medallist Luiz Gabriel Oliveira made the show against Ukraine’s Aider Abduraimov and he managed his pathway to the finals of the men’s 60kg.

Bulgaria’s record-breaking European Champion Radoslav Rosenov also has done the job against England’s William Hewitt and he is a finalist in a Strandja Trophy once again. The two stars of the competition will meet each other in one of the most anticipated final contest of the entire event.

Jakhongir Zokirov and Arman Makhanov earned several medals for the Uzbeks in the super heavyweight for the Uzbeks in 2025 and their third option, Ozodbek Aliyev impressed in Sofia. The young Uzbek was slightly better than Bulgaria’s Yordan Hernandez and his aggressive attacks guaranteed a final spot.