Day 3 in Jeju full of surprises, as Champions compete again
Forty-eight preliminary bouts were held on the third competition day of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, and Day 3 delivered some huge surprises, including a shock defeat for titleholder Josie Gabuco who was eliminated by Chinese Taipei’s Pin Meng Chieh.
Elsewhere, Katie Taylor successfully negotiated her way through the first round, and started her journey to anticipated final glory in Jeju.
Bout of the day
China’s Xu Shiqi was a silver medallist in the last edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao on home soil, and arrived to the island of Jeju as a gold medal contender.
Her first opponent was one of Europe’s best Light Flyweight class (48 kg) boxers, Bulgaria’s Sevda Asenova, who bagged a silver medal at the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in Bucharest this June.
Asenova has been a member of the national squad since 2006, but it was the less experienced Xu Shiqi who tried to control their bout from the start, while Asenova used her best weapon, quick counter-attacks to negate the Chinese boxer.
The Bulgarian was always in the fight, but the 23-year-old Xu Shiqi had the extra quality, and won the close bout which was the best of the day.
Team of the day
Ireland’s Michaela Walsh claimed a valuable silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer where she was a competitive rival for England’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams in the final of the event.
The 21-year-old Irish star has moved back to the Bantamweight class (54 kg) and showcased her excellent technique in Jeju, where she was too smart for Jamaica’s experienced athlete Sarah-Joy Rae.
Ireland’s Katie Taylor won the London 2012 Olympic Games, and the last four editions of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, so therefore she is the top favourite in Jeju.
The 28-year-old Lightweight class (60 kg) star won all of the rounds against ‘AIBA Road to Jeju Program’ member Valerian Spicer.
Surprises of the day
Philippines’ first AIBA Women’s World Champion Josie Gabuco has moved back to her original category, and fights in the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) in Jeju following her appearance in the Asian Games.
Her first opponent was Chinese Taipei’s Pin Meng Chieh who has also moved down one weight class, and is competing in her fourth AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Chinese Taipei’s technical boxer had won only one bout in her three previous World Championships, but she was able to shock the current AIBA Women’s World Champion on Day 3.
Gabuco controlled the first round, but Pin Meng Chieh excelled in the rest of the contest, and eliminated the star of the category.
United States of America has many excellent boxers in Jeju, and their Bantamweight class (54 kg) number one Christina Cruz was the bronze medallist in the last edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao.
Cruz bagged a silver medal at the AMBC American Women’s Continental Championships two months ago, and opened with great punches against Bulgaria’s Stanimira Petrova who is a new face in their national squad.
The American battled hard to control the contest, while Petrova worked from the longer range, with her hooks an especially potent tactic.
Both athletes dazzled in a spectacular last round, and finally Petrova’s hand was raised after the final bell in a surprise result.
Panama’s Independence Cup winner and South American Games silver medallist Atheyna Bylon is a tall boxer in the Middleweight class (75 kg), and she moved down one category just before the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Following her historical first success in Jeju, she had to meet with another top athlete in the second preliminary round in India’s Neetu Chahal who competed well in the last two editions of the Championships in Bridgetown and in Qinhuangdao.
The Asian boxer started better, but Bylon found the best fighting distance and continued her winning path in the Championships.
Ones to watch
Italy’s veteran athlete Marzia Davide was a gold medallist in the EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships in June, and arrived in Jeju as a gold medal contender.
The 34-year-old Bantamweight class (54 kg) boxer dominated the second round against Algeria’s African Women’s Cup of Nations silver medallist Nawel Hallou, and Davide is a definite contender in her weight class.
France’s EUBC European Women’s Continental Championships bronze medallist Marine Rostan also began her competition in Jeju, where she had to face with Laos’ lone athlete Mieovady Hongfa, who was another member of the ‘AIBA Road to Jeju Program’.
The Southeast Asian boxer has a huge fighting spirit ,but her defense was not organised enough to stop Rostan’s quick left jabs.
The French boxer tried hard to finish the bout early, but Hongfa was able to fight until the final gong, where Rostan won the bout by unanimous decision.
Germany’s Azize Nimani began her boxing career with nineteen victories, and the 23-year-old Bantamweight class (54 kg) boxer arrived to the Championships with great expectations, and proved her skills in her opening bout in Jeju.
Nimani competed against Canada’s experienced Vicky Pelletier, who could not reduce her height disadvantage, and the German’s jab was the key difference in an engrossing battle.
Stat/Fact of the day
Belarus won its first bout in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju where Helina Bruyevich achieved a victory, while the Hungarians were very unlucky in the competition, as all of their seven athletes lost their preliminary contests in the first three days.
Quote of the day
“I felt strong against the Australian boxer knowing I had my coaches and teammates support during the bout. I executed the plan that was given to me and I am ready for the next bout in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju. My target is the gold and competing in the highest level,” explained AMBC American Women’s Continental Champion Alexandra Loveto who was too strong for Australia’s Lauren Camilleri in her debut match.
