Internationale bokstop op EBC

Stars as Heijnen, Holgersson and Tiafack advanced to the finals of the Eindhoven Box Cup

The winners of the second competition day all advanced to the title bouts at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands. Several top stars including Chelsey Heijnen, Love Holgersson and Nelvie Tiafack dominated their semi-finals today.

The competition venue is the 4-stars Hotel Van der Valk Eindhoven, the accommodation place that is only 10 minutes driving from the Eindhoven International Airport. The new Eindhoven Box Cup is a preparation event for several boxers on their road to the European Games.

Francine Lukungu Ahadi won her second contest in Eindhoven

Norway’s Francine Lukungu Ahadi has only 35 bouts during her career but she won international tournaments in 2021 and in 2023 as well. The small boxer moved up to the light flyweight (50kg) and she had a simple strategy to reduce the fighting range against the taller Chantelle Robinson of Ireland. Lukungu Ahadi received shots from the Irish side in the first round and she had to go for medical check to the corner as well. She was able to continue the contest against the tall Irish and despite that she had the same tactical difficulties in the second round, she worked better in that period. Lukungi Ahadi caught the Irish with tough right-handed shots in the beginning of the third round and she was able to turn back their semi-final winning the bout by RSC. She will now meet for the title another Irish boxer, Caitlin Fryers, the silver medallist from the last European Women’s Championships.

Goman vs. Paiva for the title of the flyweight

Germany’s Christopher Goman had a tight victory in the first competition day and he had another bit battle against a Swedish boxer, Omar Mujtabashani. Goman is one of the most developed flyweight (51kg) boxers who had a fantastic tactical weapon against his inexperienced opponent, he switched his stance several times during the contest. The German finished the third round with excellent punches and nice movements therefore he will now meet for the title an Irish boxer, Clepson Antonio Paiva.

Denis Bril is Germany’s new teenage sensation

Luxembourg’s Benik Melkumian caused one of the main sensations of the first competition day when he eliminated a top Ukrainian boxer, Aider Abduraimov in the quarter-finals of the featherweight (57kg). Melkumian had an injury in the end of last year therefore he was unable to box in the previous months in the international stage of boxing. He returned to the events in this Eindhoven Box Cup and he had another remarkable performance against Germany’s super talented Denis Bril. The 19-year-old German stepped into the gas in the decisive third round and he had the stamina to eliminate Melkumian in an outstanding bout therefore Brill will be boxing for the gold Ilyas Jawad.

Heijnen and Breslin are the finalists at the women’s lightweight

Netherlands’ Chelsey Heijnen moved back to the lightweight (60kg) due to the Olympics but she is one of the strongest punchers in the entire world in this category. Heijnen eliminated her first opponent on Day1 and she looked not only stronger but much quicker than her Swedish opponent, Jenny Lundberg. Heijnen was better in the second round and she finished the bout in the third when her heavy shots caught Lundberg who injured in this semi-final. Heijnen, who is aiming for an Olympic spot in the upcoming European Games, will now meet for the title an Irish opponent, Zara Breslin, the triumphant against Portugal’s Carolina Ferreira.

Arbiza dominated the second and third rounds

The Privilegio Boxing Club works hard with head coach Mr. Bruno Carvalho in Portugal to reach the level of the international stage. Their Rodrigo Arbiza has Argentinean origins but he lives and trains in Portugal who has the enthusiasm for the sport and competed already in the first edition of the Eindhoven Box Cup in 2016. The light welterweight (63.5kg) boxer had some issues in the first round against Germany’s Koray Ocal but from the second he dominated the semi-final. Arbiza will be boxing for the title Ireland’s James Shamie McDonagh who had a strong performance against Belgium’s Yassin Arfa.

Love Holgersson is back on track

Sweden’s Love Holgersson returned to the competitions after a half year of break and she was more experienced than her opening rival. She spent a very short time in the ring against Ireland’s newcomer at the middleweight (75kg), Bethany Doocey. The Irish recognized the difference between the two boxers quickly and abandoned the unequal contest still in the first round and the Swedish No.1 joined the final. Holgersson’s final opponent will be Germany’s Corinna Krusche who has the similar height as the Swedish boxer.

Schachidov had a surprise loss but Tiafack won his opener

Germany’s Magomed Schachidov, the bronze medallist from the 2022 European Boxing Championships, had to face his teammate, Kushtrim Mamuti in the semi-finals of the light middleweight (71kg). The 29-year-old boxer was not enough shape in the beginning of the bout and he suffered a surprise loss to the attacking Mamuti. Another German star, Nelvie Tiafack, the defending European Champion of the super heavyweight (+92kg), controlled all of the three rounds against Ukraine’s Andriy Khaletskyi.

Eminsson and Leganase are finalists in Eindhoven

Emin Kadri Eminsson has 41 bouts during his career and he is Iceland’s best hope for the future who reached already several historic result for the Nordic country. Eminsson stepped into the gas in the beginning of the second round and he was able to eliminate a German boxer, Alex Schiller at the light middleweight (71kg). Another promising boxer, Belgium’s Idris Leganase, who earned a surprise silver medal at the annual Bocskai Memorial Tournament, proved his further progress in the Eindhoven Box Cup. Leganase defeated Grace Luke Selby in his semi-final and he is ready to do his very best in the final tomorrow.