(MAY 19) Thirty-two contests were held in the second day of the new edition of the Boxam Elite International Boxing Tournament in Castellon de la Plana where the winners are guaranteed medallists and advanced to the semi-finals. Spain’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Samuel Carmona won the bout of the day but Amina Zidani has done the major sensation of the second competition day.

The Boxam Tournament is a strong preparation event for the upcoming European Games and for the EUBC European Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships. Australia, Ecuador, New Zealand and Thailand are also sent boxers besides to the tough European countries which means four continents are attending in Castellon de la Plana.

Bout of the day

Spain’s Samuel Carmona was quarter-finalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games when he boxed at the light flyweight (49kg). The 23-year-old Spanish boxer moved up two divisions and attends at the bantamweight (56kg) in the Boxam Tournament. Carmona had difficulties in the first round against Ecuador’s Jean Caicedo who claimed silver medal in the Panamerican Games Qualifier in Managua last month. The Spanish boxer turned up the heat in time and after the first break he returned with energetic combinations. Carmona landed clear punches in the third round when the referee counted the Ecuadorian twice which meant the Spanish boxer was able to make a great comeback in Castellon de la Plana.

Surprise of the day

France’s Amina Zidani attended in a few international competitions in the recent years but she had to face with Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist and Asian Games runner-up Sudaporn Seesondee in the quarter-final of the lightweight (60kg). The younger French boxer started the bout aggressively with several attacks and surprised the Thai star in the first round. Seesondee used her distance better from the second round but Zidani delivered the main sensation of the day with her unexpected success in Castellon de la Plana.

The Round-up

Spain’s Laura Fuertes moved up from the light flyweight (48kg) and met in the quarter-final with her teammate Maria Gonzalez which was a selection bout between them for the upcoming main competitions. The younger Fuertes was quicker than her opponent and controlled the first round with her speed. Gonzalez reduced the differences and she was more aggressive from the second round but Fuertes was able to keep her tight advantage until the final gong.

France’s No.1 at the women’s flyweight (51kg) EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Wassila Lkhadiri suffered a tight loss to Australia’s young hope Taylah Robertson in the quarter-finals. The second French hope of the category Houria Djalout had also difficulties against Hungary’s Krisztina Beri but only in the first round. The French boxer stepped into the gas and landed more punches which delivered for her a success in Castellon de la Plana.

Hungary’s Szabina Szucs attended in the recent three editions of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and claimed several medals in the international events in 2019 as well. The 27-year-old boxer moved up to the featherweight (57kg) and in the quarter-final of the Boxam Tournament she used her longer hands to keep the best fighting range against Spain’s veteran Lara Rebeca Garcia. Szucs stopped the Spanish attacks in the first two rounds well and her counter-punches decided their contest in Castellon de la Plana.

Finland’s defending EUBC European Women’s Champion Mira Potkonen dominated her opening fight in the Boxam Tournament and impressed once again in the quarter-finals of the lightweight (60kg). Finland’s star knocked down Spain’s Patricia Rodriguez and the referee confirmed her next RSC success in Castellon de la Plana. Another strong favourite in this division England’s Shona Whitwell controlled her quarter-final against Hungary’s Kata Pribojszki and also advanced to the last four as Potkonen.

France’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Enzo Grau eliminated Thailand’s Rujakran Juntrong in a big preliminary fight and he repeated that strong performance in the quarter-finals against Spain’s Cristian Eusse Vasquez. The French lightweight (60kg) boxer is only 20 but he has done smart boxing against the local opponent and won all of the rounds in each scorecard.