(MAY 10)  The XXXIV International “Feliks Stamm” Tournament for Elite Men and Women took place in Warsaw, Poland with the finals on Saturday and Sunday.

This was a tournament which included five weights for women, not just the usual three but both male and female entries were missing some of the more famous names in AIBA/EUBC ‘amateur’ boxing since they have all departed to pastures new, mainly the Pro sport, since those ill-fated Rio Olympics which saw so many controversial issues and decisions in and out of the ring.

Since then of course the AIBA have continued in their attempt to dominate the men’s boxing scene whilst doing little for the women. Why they did not set up a women’s Pro circuit and attempt to retain the services of their former great champions remains a mystery.

Missing from the women’s tournament – and a huge loss to the AIBA albeit many would say entirely due to their own carelessness – (i.e.: in not promoting the women’s sport and not having an official WSB tournament) were such as Olympic Champions from both London 2012 and Rio 2016 like Nicola Adams, Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, Victoria Torres, Marlen Esparza and Savannah Marshall plus the retired Ariane Fortin and current Olympic lightweight titleholder Estelle Mossely who is said to be considering becoming a Pro once she returns to the ring.

That said there were some fine bouts in the women’s event especially at the three Olympic weights and three worthy Gold medallists in Virginia Fuchs (USA), Finland’s evergreen Mira Potkonen in the Lightweight 60kg division and Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli at 75kg. Insofar as the two additional weights are concerned those crowns now rest with Azerbaijan’s Anna Alimardanova (57kg) and German, Nadine Apetz at 69kg. It seems likely (though yet to be officially confirmed) that these two weights will be included in the 2020 Olympics in schedule – a small step, no more – towards Equality for Women and WBAN will continue to fight for COMPLETE EQUALITY until that does happen.

It was a good tournament for the United States women with Fuchs taking Gold, ‘newcomer’ Wendy Casey silver and Michaela Mayer bronze. This from USA Boxing:

“Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas) added another gold medal to the one she won earlier this year at the Strandja Tournament in Bulgaria. Fuchs took her fourth unanimous decision victory of the tournament to take the flyweight title over Busenaz Cakiroglu of Turkey.

Featherweight Wendy Casey’s (Buffalo, N.Y.) impressive international tournament debut came to an end with a silver medal. Casey put up a tough fight against Azerbaijan’s Anna Alimardanova, but could not hold her off to take the judges card. The third medal was secured by Mikaela Mayer (Los Angeles, Calif.) in the semi-final round. The fourth member of Team USA was middleweight Oshae Jones (Toledo, Ohio). The four boxers will return to the United States today, where they will begin training camp for June’s Continental Championships in Tegucigalpa, Honduras”.