Seven exciting boxers speak ahead of 2015 EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships
The top boxers and possible new stars of the 2015 EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships have spoken to AIBA ahead of the competition launch in Samokov, Bulgaria.
Daniel Asenov, Bulgaria (52 kg)
Bulgaria’s Daniel Asenov claimed the gold medal at the 2013 EUBC European Junior Continental Championships in Anapa, Russia and qualified for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
The 18-year-old Flyweight (52 kg) is one of the youngest competitors in the entire championships. but has an excellent opportunity to compete well in front of his home crowd.
“I am very young at the elite level, but after my experiences at the Baku 2015 European Games I know I can beat older and experienced rivals in Samokov. I was strong during the preparations, so therefore I am expecting great results and some extra power from the local crowd,” said Asenov.
Adlan Abdurashidov, Russia (60 kg)
Russia’s Summer Universiade winner Adlan Abdurashidov achieved an excellent 5-1 record in Season V of the World Series of Boxing, and is one of Russia’s most highly rated boxers.
“I worked very hard to take my place in the Russian national team and box in the EUBC European Continental Championships. Now I have the chance to show my skills to our coaches as I want to be there in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“My first preparation stage was a 24-day training camp in Armenia where we did a lot of running and physical preparation. The second stage was a two-week long intensive training period, and I feel better and better everyday.
“I have built tactics against all of my opponents with my coach Eduard Kravtsov before the event. In the Championships I want to show I am among the best fighters in the European continent,” said Abdurashidov.
Joseph Cordina, Great Britain (60 kg)
Multiple international tournament winner Joseph Cordina is the lone Welshmen in the current British team, and the 24-year-old Lightweight (60 kg) boxer earned a silver medal in the 2010 Sportaccord World Combat Games, plus bronze in the last edition of the Commonwealth Games a year ago.
“I am very happy that I have recovered after my injury which came last season in the World Series of Boxing. My preparation for Samokov was great, we had a few training camps and I had a lot of good sparring leading up. My goal in Samokov is the gold medal, nothing less will satisfy me,” commented Cordina.
Vincenzo Arecchia, Italy (69 kg)
Italy’s Vincenzo Arecchia is another future star of the European continent who claimed a gold medal in the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and in the EUBC European Youth Continental Championships.
The Italian teenager moved up to the Welterweight class (69 kg) this year, and is among the favourites in Samokov despite his relatively low number of bouts.
“I feel I trained well enough for my first big elite tournament and I hope I can do my best in Bulgaria. We raised my training hours up to 26 hours a week to get top result in the event. I changed my weight class, and my main goal is to get a quota to Doha. The difference between the youth and elite age groups is mainly the headguards, but I am sure I can solve my tasks in Samokov,” said Arecchia.
Eimantas Stanionis, Lithuania (69 kg)
Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis made his name after securing bronze in the 2011 EUBC European Youth Continental Championships, and following his great youth career he has developed an impressive series of performances in AIBA Pro Boxing.
“I do not expect anything, just to step into the ring and focus only on my first opponent. I will have more stamina after my AIBA Pro Boxing fights, but I have not competed in any AOB events over the recent months, so we will see how my tactics will work in Samokov,” commented the 21-year-old Stanionis who is the number two seed at Welterweight (69 kg).
Tomasz Jablonski, Poland (75 kg)
Poland’s Tomasz Jablonski put himself into the spotlight this year when he accumulated an impressive 6-1 record in the World Series of Boxing.
“My expectation is to win a medal or at least get into the Top 6 to qualify for the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships. My coaches focused on some tactical issues, so I am sure this effort will pay off in Bulgaria. I trained under the supervision of the entire coaching staff. Our training camp was held in the Alps, where I was working on conditioning and strength,” said Poland’s Middleweight class (75 kg) star.
Marko Calic, Croatia (91 kg)
Croatia’s Marko Calic was a quarter-finalist in the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty, and has developed well following his recent fights in AIBA Pro Boxing.
“I have trained very hard to get a medal in the EUBC European Continental Championships and I train with full speed every day to accomplish my goals in the event. I fought eight rounds in AIBA Pro Boxing, so I have changed my preparation to raise my speed,” said the strong Croatian boxer.
