(JAN 21) Tuesday saw the second day of the 71st Strandja tournament in Bulgaria and an impressive entry it is too with boxers coming from many countries to gain experience prior to their own Confederation Olympic qualifying tournaments in the coming months.

So how many boxers have entered and from which countries. The EUBC tells us that:

"The following 34 nations are taking part in the event: Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland, Refugee Team, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and United States of America.

(Participating Confederations: Africa (AFBC), Asia (ASBC), America (AMBC), Europe (EUBC)"

Who are the main exponents of the art to take part in this year's WOMEN'S tournament? A difficult choice from such a large entry field but watch out - via the EUBC 'YouTube' Channel for:

Virginia Fuchs, United States of America, women’s 51kg – Bronze medallist in the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships; AMBC American Champion

Stanimira Petrova, Bulgaria, women’s 57kg – AIBA Women’s World Champion in 2014, two-time EUBC European Women’s Champion

Sonia Lather Singh, India, women’s 57kg – Silver medallist in the Astana 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships

Michaela Walsh, Ireland, women’s 57kg – Two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist

Mira Potkonen, Finland, women’s 60kg – Defending EUBC European Women’s Champion, European Games winner; Bronze medallist in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Kellie Harrington, Ireland, women’s 60kg – AIBA Women’s World Champion in 2018

Beatriz Yasmin Ferreira, Brazil, women’s 60kg – AIBA Women’s World Champion; Two-time AMBC American Women’s Champion

Alessia Mesiano, Italy, women’s 60kg – AIBA Women’s World Champion in 2016

Rashida Ellis, United States of America, women’s 60kg – Bronze medallist in the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships

Karolina Koszewska, Poland, women’s 69kg – European Games winner in 2019

Nadine Apetz, Germany, women’s 69kg – Two-time AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist

Atheyna Bylon, Panama, women’s 75kg – AIBA Women’s World Champion in 2014

Aoife O’Rourke, Ireland, women’s 75kg – EUBC European Women’s Champion in 2019

So how did the first day go? Quite well from an Irish perspective, it has to be said.

Michaela Walsh got Ireland off to a winning start versus the USA Boxing representative.

The Antrim feather beat Lupe Gutierrez on points in Sofia and will be back between the ropes tomorrow to meet Spain’s Jenifer Fernandez for a place in the last eight.

Roscommon middle Aoife O’Rourke, the current European champion, made it 2 and 0 for Ireland in a points win over Sweden’s Love Holgersson to book her ticket into the quarter-finals.

In the afternoon session, Ceire Smith advanced at the expense of French flyweight Johanna Wonyou, and Cork welter Christina Desmond beat Brazil’s Beatriz Soares after a hard-punching 69kg contest.

It's early days yet and some great bouts on the horizon in the days ahead.

Here you can see all of Tuesday's bouts from Sofia:- nearly 8 hours boxing in all!, male and female.

In addition, you can also follow the fortunes of the United States boxers via this link to the official USA Boxing website