(NOV 18) Here on wban.com we are delighted to bring you news of recent developments in amateur boxing and we start off with a review of the recent European Youth Championships in the Baltic Sea resort of Wladyslawowo, Poland.

In part two, we will look at the Junior event in the same championships and will have an interview with one of the Gold medallists.

Remember these are likely to be among the stars of the future and will be competing , prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics, in events such as the 2013 Women's World Junior/Youth Championships, the 2014 Youth Olympics and in some cases, depending on nationality, in the Commonwealth Games of 2014 in Glasgow,Scotland. By 2014/15, many of the older young women will have progressed to senior ranks so come Rio 2016 may well be challenging the likes of 2012 Olympic champions, Nikki Adams,Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields.

There are however other considerations also to bear in mind – boxers from all 32 counties represent Ireland at European, European Union and World championships but only those born in Northern Ireland can compete in the Commonwealth Games. England, Scotland and Wales also take part in European and World events and in the Commonwealth Games but there is only one “Team GB” in the Olympics. Confused?

And so to the recent European Youth and Juniors in Poland.

ELIGIBILITY OF BOXERS AND WEIGHT CATEGORIES

Age classification:

Youth: Boxers who were born between January 1, 1994 – December 31, 1995 (ages 17-18).

Junior: Boxers who were born between January 1, 1996 – December 31, 1997 (ages 15-16).

That explained, here courtesy of our friends at aiba.org is a report on the Youth event in Poland – an event held under the auspices of the European Boxing Federation (EUBC):-

“The fourth edition of the EUBC European Women's Youth and Junior Championships was the best yet witnessed, confirming the continued rise in the level of women's boxing. The scenic city of Wladyslawowo in Poland hosted some sumptuous boxing with the talent on show at times breath-taking. Russia was the dominant nation but with so many nations making their mark, the future sure looks bright. Here we review the Youth tournament.

Svetlana Dmitriyeva began the Russian winning spree as she defended her youth title by defeating Ukraine's National Youth Champion Svetlana Vasylevska in the gold medal contest. Nikolayev Ladies Cup bronze medallist Svetlana Soluyanova, who had claimed the gold medal at the Russian Women's Elite National Championships just before this continental event, followed her compatriot's lead by dominating the Flyweight (51kg) final against Turkey's Elif Nur Coskun to win 16:12.

Russian Women's National Championships bronze medallist Lyudmila Shakhova achieved a career highlight for herself after she triumphed over Hungary's National Junior Champion Erika Kalderas 17:13. Following her European Junior title, Shakhova has now added the Youth title to her collection.

Poland's Paulina Jakubczyk, who had eliminated Hungary's favourite Kornelia Kitti Nagy in the semi-finals, secured the host nation's only gold medal in the youth tournament after coming out on top in a gruelling battle with Ukraine's Marina Malovanova 19:12. Poland proving that their great traditions in women's boxing is still very strong.

In the Olympic Lightweight (60kg) class, France's new rising star Melanie Bouveur claimed a sensational gold medal after beating Poland's AIBA Women's Junior World Championships bronze medallist Aneta Rygielska. The French fighter went on the offensive from the off and won the bout by a large margin of points.

France's golden streak continued as Wendy Couvercelle shocked Swedish titleholder Patricia Berghult, who had only ever suffered one loss at this level. The Light Welterweight (64kg) contest was absolutely sensational and Couvercelle was simply unstoppable as she defeated Berghult 19:13 and caused one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Germany's first gold medal was achieved by 18-year-old AIBA Women's Youth World Championships bronze medallist Darlene Joerling who was simply too strong for Poland's Hanna Solecka. Queens Cup winner Irina Schoenberger, who lost to her teammate Darlene Joerling in the final of the 2011 German Youth National Championships, then took home her nation's second gold.

Russia's 17-year-old AIBA Junior World Champion Dinara Shukeyeva, who had a close semi-final battle against Hungary's AIBA Women's World Championships quarter-finalist Petra Szatmari, triumphed over Poland's European Junior Champion Patrycja Woronowicz to take the Light Heavyweight (81kg) title. AIBA Junior World Champion Saida Gamidova secured the fifth Russian gold medal in Wladyslawowo as she defeated Turkey's AIBA Women's Youth World Championships bronze medallist Burcu Kilic in the Heavyweight (91kg) final. Shukeyeva and Gamidova will now be seeking glory at the 2013 AIBA Women's Youth World Championships.

Insofar as the British boxers are concerned, there were bronze medals for 54kg Sarah Rostron (Kirkby ABC, Merseyside and Cheshire) and also for 64kg Laura Kelly (Gorton ABC, North West).

For Ireland, Aoife Hennigan, Hannah Carthy, Oliwia Samsanow, 2010 European Junior silver medallist Christine Gargan and Kayleigh Murrihy, all reached the Youth quarter-finals and showed much promise for 2013.

So an excellent Youth tournament with the Russians taking home five Gold medals.

Finals Youth:

2012-11-08 48kg Svetlana Dmitrieva RUS Svetlana Vasilevskaya UKR 12:8

2012-11-08 51kg Svetlana Soluyanova RUS Elif Nur Coskun TUR 16:12

2012-11-08 54kg Ludmila Shakhova RUS Erika Kalderas HUN 17:13

2012-11-08 57kg Paulina Jakubczyk POL Marina Malovana UKR 19:12

2012-11-08 60kg Melanie Bouveur FRA Aneta Rygielska POL 26:13

2012-11-08 64kg Wendy Couvercelle FRA Patricia Berghult SWE 19:13

2012-11-08 69kg Darlene Joerling GER Hanna Solecka POL 16:13

2012-11-08 75kg Irina Schoenberger GER Maria Borutsa UKR 19:17

2012-11-08 81kg Dinara Shukeyeva RUS Patrycja Woronowicz POL 18:11

2012-11-08 +81kg Saida Gamidova RUS Burcu Kilic TUR 22:10
(with additional reporting from aiba.org)

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