(JAN 7) 2014 was an exciting – in
more ways than one – year for the ‘amateurs’ and 2015 promises
to be an even better, perhaps more controversial year.
Later this year we have the inaugural European Games in Baku,
Azerbaijan where Ireland’s Katie Taylor will be seeking to add
yet another title to those 5 in a row World golds, 6 Europeans,
5 European Unions, and of course her 2012 London ‘Olympic Gold’.
To start the year though let us
look at this weekend’s big ‘amateur’ tournament in Europe.
The 2015 Borås ‘Golden Girl BC’ tournament is scheduled for the
town’s Boråshallen January 9/10/11 where Finland’s Mira Potkonen
will attempt to retain her 2014 crown against some of Europe’s
leading boxers from countries like Russia, Germany, The
Netherlands, Great Britain and Ireland as well as from not only
host nation Sweden but the best of the rest of the Scandinavians
too.
At the time of writing there had been some 170 boxers, mainly
from Europe, who had entered for this prestigious annual event.
There will be four sessions:
Friday 16:00, Saturday 10:30 and 19:00 with Sunday as final day,
commencing from 10:00. The ‘Golden Girl’ award will be announced
at the end of Sunday’s bouts.
A brief history of the tournament. It was founded in 2009 by Ray
Husac and Lina Erlandsson.
The Golden Girl Box Cup is open for all female boxers, all
categories.
Back in 2009, 70 of the best female boxers in Europe came to
fight for the title”GOLDEN GIRL”. After the first day of many
hard fights, three boxers were in the hunt for the title,
Charley Davidson, Hannah Beharry and Matilda Neren. In the end,
the judges decided on the first ‘ Golden Girl’ – England’s
Hannah Beharry.
In 2011 over 80 boxers entered and this time it was even harder
for the participants. That year it was between Jemyma Betrian,
Marielle V Hansen and Fadma Ali. Netherlands Jemyma Betrian won
the title in the absence of the previous year’s winner.
In 2012, again over 80 boxers entered and this time nothing
could stop Marielle Hansen of Norway, she was outstanding in a
roster of boxers that were magnificent. With hard competition
from Sweden’s Helena Falk she finally got the title that she
deserved. Marielle V Hansen was duly crowned as Golden Girl in a
momentous year for women’s boxing. Remember London 2012?
In 2013 organisers changed the status from Box Cup to
Championship and had a record entry with over 110 boxers
entering the Championship. This time the participating Girls was
even better and Marielle V Hansen came back to successfully
defend her title.
A year ago, it was the great Finn, Mira Potkonen who took the
coveted title and she will be back again this year in an effort
to successfully defend her crown.. Can she do it? Well if anyone
can Mira can but it is expected that among her strongest
challengers will be the Russians including 2014 AIBA World Elite
champion, Anastasia Beliakova (tipped by many experts as likely
to be the Russian entry for 60kg in Rio). It would be unwise
though to write off the chances of Sofya Ochigava representing
the mighty Russians again in 2016.
Another Russian champion who may be in the running for this
year’s title is 57kg featherweight Tatiana Zhrazhevskaya so all
in all a great weekend boxing in store for lovers of the sport
in Sweden.
All the news from Sweden here on WBAN after the final outcome is
known.
