Rinka Kinoshita and Ivy-Jane Smith were among the winners at the Ulaanbaatar Boxing Cup on Day1

Japan’s Asian Champion Rinka Kinoshita and England’s returning Ivy-Jane Smith were among the winners at the  World Boxing Cup Ulaanbaatar 2024 in Mongolia on Day1.

Australia, China, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Wales are participating in the Ulaanbaatar Boxing Cup.

Altogether 39 women and 61 men boxers are competing for the eleven available titles in Ulaanbaatar. The women’s light flyweight (50kg) has 12 boxers but the men’s light welterweight (63.5kg) is also popular with their 14 pugilists.

England’s Ivy-Jane Smith made a fantastic comeback to the highest level of the international stage and she eliminated a top Mongolian, Balsan Mungunsaran in the opening bout of the entire Ulaanbaatar Box Cup.

Japan’s Asian Champion Rinka Kinoshita had to miss the Olympic Games in Paris but she looked outstanding from the first seconds against Sodon-Od Binderiya in their women’s light flyweight (50kg) contest.

Mongolia’s Paris Olympian Yesugen Oyuntsetseg moved up to the bantamweight (54kg) for this event and she had the confidence to beat Germany’s Meryem Sarah Binbir following Khulan Purevdorj has done a surprise triumph over Japan’s Mikoto Harada.

China’s Liu Chuang won one of closest bouts at the men’s flyweight (51kg) but he managed to beat Mongolia’s Davaadorj Lkhagvadorj. Australia’s 19-year-old Jye Dixon and Philippines’ Asian U22 Champion Aaron Jude Bado both eliminated their rivals on Day1.

Mongolia has impressive boxers at the men’s featherweight (57kg) and both of their stars won the preliminary bouts today. Dorjnyambuu Ganbold eliminated Philippines’ Ian Clark Bautista in one of the top fights of the day but the Asian Elite Champion Enkh-Amar Kharkhuu also proved a good performance.

South Korea’s Jang Dong Hwan had a surprise triumph over England’s Patris Mughalzai in the busy light welterweight (63.5kg) where Germany’s Assan Hansen and Japan’s Shion Nishiyama also succeeded with smart boxing.