Rafael Lozano Serrano continues his family traditions at Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament

March 16th, 2021 / IBA

XVI Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament was held in Vilnus, Lithuania, as a run-up to AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships for boxers. Rafael Lozano Serrano, 16, son of the Spanish two-time Olympic medallist, national boxing legend and head coach Rafael Lozano Munoz, was awarded the title in light flyweight category (49kg) in Vilnius.

Danas Pozniakas was Lithuania’s boxing icon in the era of the Soviet Union in the 1960’s when he competed at the highest level in light heavyweight (81kg). He earned a gold medal at Mexico 1968 Summer Olympics representing the Soviet Union and has also won the European Boxing Championships three times: in 1965, 1967 and 1969. Danas Pozniakas died in 2005. The next year, the Lithuanian Boxing Federation decided to launch the Youth Tournament to give credit to his life and pay tribute to his greatness.

Rafael Lozano Serrano continued his family traditions

At XVI Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament, the Spanish boxing team impressed the world with their record-breaking four gold medals. Rafael Lozano Munoz is the only Spanish boxer in history to have claimed two Olympic medals. He has also won seven major international tournaments in the 1990’s. His son, Rafael Lozano Serrano, one of the biggest Spanish hopes, has earned a gold medal in yet another preparatory event in Vilnius. The 16-year-old talent was too quick for Ernestas Sinkevicius, Lithuania, in the light flyweight (49kg) finals, and carried on his family winning tradition in the lightest category.

Erik Suchy, the Czech Republic, defended his title in Vilnius

Two girls from the Czech Republic: Claudia Tothova, EUBC Youth European Boxing Championships silver medallist,and Veronika Gajdova, pulled off a win in their weight categories at XVI Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament. Following their contests, Erik Suchy, best youth male boxer of the Czech Republic, became the only boxer in the competition to defended his title. The Czech light welterweight (64kg) talent defeated an Indian boxer in the finals in 2020, and this time he overperformed Fabio Mazzilli, Spain. Suchy is strongly expected to win a medal at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships.

Excellent performance of Latvian and Lithuanian athletes in Vilnius

Latvia had four finalists at XVI Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament, three of whom claimed gold medals in Vilnius. Beatrise Rozentale and Nikolina Boke triumphed in their weight categories on the women’s part of the competition,while Matvejs Prokudins defeated Marcel Materla, Poland, in the finals of the bantam weight (56kg) category. Latvia is planning to send two girls and four boys to the upcoming AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. The athletes of the host country were also awarded three gold medals in Vilnius: Dija Bajalyte, Aleksandr Trofimciuk and Gelmius Adomkevicius have all turned their rivals aside.

The list of the winners of XVI Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament

Women 51kg: Dija Bajalyte, Lithuania

Women 54kg: Claudia Tothova, Czech Republic

Women 60kg: Veronika Gajdova, Czech Republic

Women 64kg: Beatrise Rozentale, Latvia

Women 69kg: Nikolina Boke, Latvia

Men 49kg: Rafael Lozano Serrano, Spain

Men 52kg: Juan Pantoja, Spain

Men 56kg: Matvejs Prokudins, Latvia

Men 60kg: Salvador Flores, Spain

Men 64kg: Erik Suchy, Czech Republic

Men 69kg: Sergio Martinez, Spain