Action concluded at the Budva Sports Centre in Montenegro on Sunday at the IBA Youth Men’s and Women’s World Boxing Championships, as 12 boxers became World champions.

It was a glorious opening victory for Yelyanur Turganova of Kazakhstan, the Asian bronze medallist, in the women’s 50kg, defeating Carlagh Peake by a unanimous decision. Turganova turned the pressure up in the second round, with Peake unable to match her opponent’s quality. Following on from that, Russian Diana Sikstus survived her contest with France’s Maloe Teresi to claim the women’s 54kg title, winning by virtue of a split decision.

There was complete elation for Son Su Rim, as the DPR Korean won a tight bout against Wu Yuting of China in the women’s 60kg final. With little separating them into the last round, they were both needing the approval of one undecided judge. It would go the way of Son, who was jumping for joy when her arm was raised.

Ireland’s Kyla Doyle Byrne was unstoppable against Kazakhstan’s Uldana Taubay in the women’s 66kg division. An impressive opener for the Irish boxer was then followed by a dominant second round. In the final three minutes, it was more of a case of trying to stop the contest early with Taubay struggling to match her. Although the Kazakh would endure to the final bell, it was in no doubt that Doyle would claim the gold medal.

Another powerful striker claimed gold in the following match as Bao Zi from China beat Nell McLaughlin in the women’s 75kg division. A fantastic left jab knocked the head of McLaughlin, who would face a referee’s count in the first round and would again be responding to the official’s hands in the third round. Quickly after this Bao, came in again like a steam train, causing McLaughlin to drop to a knee and lose to the Chinese boxer by referee’s stoppage.

Türkiye’s Kethuda Havvanur was in fine form in the women’s +81kg, beating IBA Junior World champion Sobirakhon Shakhobiddinova from Uzbekistan by referee’s stoppage.

Shakhobiddinova would face a referee’s count in the first round and face an onslaught of offence from Havvanur throughout the opening three minutes – a verdict agreed on by the judges. The contest would end before the conclusion of the second round. After two counts, the referee called time on the bout, with the Uzbek struggling to defend herself.

Bexultan Boranbek of Kazakhstan won the men’s 51kg title, defeating Justin Munevar Moreno of Colombia by a unanimous decision.

Samandar Olimov of Uzbekistan won by the narrowest of margins in the men’s 57kg final, bettering Yojander Fuentes Druyet of Cuba on a 3-2 split. Olimov held a narrow lead into the last round and would hold on for the victory.

Abdulaziz Jurakulov of Uzbekistan became the men’s 63.5kg champion, winning prematurely in his bout with Azerbaijan’s Ali Abdullaev. Jurakulov was slightly ahead after two rounds, and it mattered in the end. Following an injury to the nose of Abdullaev, which would not stop gushing with blood, the contest was stopped, and the Uzbek boxer took the gold.

Asian champion Oner Seiilkhan became a World champion in the men’s 71kg, defeating Aleksei Gukov of Russia. It was a unanimous verdict, but it did not tell the whole story. Four of the judges’ cards voted for the Kazakh by a one-point margin, showing it was closer than the decision may have seemed.

Russia would take gold in the next final, as Ruslan Shikhmambetov was victorious in the men’s 80kg division over Spain’s Yolber Bandomo Carbonell by a 4-1 split, while Khalimjon Mamasoliev – the Asian champion at 92kg – secured the last gold of the competition, beating Amirreza Malekkhatabi from Iran by a 3-2 margin.

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Media contacts:

Elena Sobol, Head of Communications and PR, International Boxing Association: elena.sobol@iba.sport