Bennama, Rosenov and Abbasov on the golden pathway in Belgrade

The male quarter-finals of the EUBC European Elite Boxing Championships delivered several outstanding contests and the next generation impressed in Belgrade, Serbia

Hungary’s Attila Bernath delivered the first surprise of the seventh competition day when he turned back his semi-final against Russia’s European Champion Vasiliy Egorov at the men’s flyweight (51kg).

Spain’s Rafael Lozano replaced the defending champion Martin Molina at the flyweight (51kg) but he managed to beat Armenia’s Rudolf Garboyan and he is now a medallist in his first ever elite championships.

France’s Billal Bennama is not only the European Games winner but he earned medals in almost all of his main championships during his career and the new edition in Belgrade is also successful for the bantamweight (54kg) after beating Azerbaijan’s Amin Mammadzada.

Bulgaria’s Javier Ibanez was fantastic in the quarter-final against Moldova’s Danil Ocoman and his shots were decisive in the second round at the featherweight (57kg) where France’s Samuel Kistohurry is also a semi-finalist.  

Bulgaria’s Radoslav Rosenov is a multiple European Champion boxer in various age groups and he is aiming for his first elite title. The 21-year-old Bulgarian controlled all of the three rounds against Belarus’ Artur Tuniyeu and he is now at least a guaranteed medallist.

Moldova’s Alexandru Paraschiv had a dominance in his quarter-final against Slovakia’s young Miroslav Herceg but the main sensation of this light welterweight (63.5kg) was delivered by Azerbaijan’s Malik Hasanov who eliminated Ireland’s Dean Patrick Clancy.

Serbia’s defending champion Vakhid Abbasov, Georgia’s Lasha Guruli, Russia’s Tarkhan Idigov and Armenia’s Ararat Harutyunyan are the semi-finalists at the welterweight (67kg) while the stars of the light middleweight (71kg) delighted the evening session.

Croatia’s Gabrijel Veocic, the European Games silver medallist, eliminated Moldova’s Dmitri Cosciuc at the light heavyweight (80kg), also France’s Yojerlin Cesar.