Three world champions added continental crowns to their trophy cabinets today at the European Junior Boxing Championships in Sarajevo, following a week’s worth of action at the Arena Hotel Hills.

Ireland’s John Maher tasted success in the men’s 66kg final after defeating Artyom Stepanyan of Armenia, making him a junior champion twice in the space of eight months and one of two Irish winners today alongside Edward Harty in the men’s 63.5kg final, triumphing over Armenian Aleks Petrosyan.

A rematch of the men’s 46kg world final between Islam Magomedov and Arno Darchinyan from Armenia took place at the heavier 50kg weight category, with the Russian once again coming out on top by unanimous decision. His compatriot Anna Buzuleva won the world title in the women’s 80kg tournament and added the European gold to her name too at the same weight, this time cruising to victory against Turkey’s Melisa Eroglu.

One of the most surprising moments came in the men’s 54kg final, as Yanko Metodiev Iliev from Bulgaria put a stop to Armenia’s Tihran Ovsepian’s – the only defending European champion in the final – quest to claim back-to-back continental golds. Iliev, who was the 52kg bronze medallist in 2023, forced a referee’s stoppage in the first round, denying Ovsepian of a dream double in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Another athlete who moved to a higher spot on the podium this year was Italian Sara Scorrano, who overcame the heartbreak of silver in 2023 to this time outbox Arina Riumina from Russia in the women’s 70kg final.

There were three finals between the best-represented nations today – Armenia and Russia. Russia would win two of these, as Maksim Sobolev claimed a unanimous decision win over Martin Sahakyan in the men’s 60kg contest to add to Magomedov’s victory; but it would not all go their way. Samvel Siramargyan won the men’s 75kg final for Armenia over Arsenii Stolnikov.

ore Armenian success came in the women’s 48kg contest as Hamest Afrikyan dominated against Italy’s Giorgia la Rosa and in the men’s 48kg final as Simon Simonyan won unanimously over Nihat Gasimov from Azerbaijan.

Russia claimed 16 gold medals across 26 finals. Rustam Gasanov and Samira Itonieva would be crowned victors in the men’s and women’s +80kg finals respectively, with Gasanov beating Azerbaijan’s Safdar Mammadzada. There was success in the lightest category too as Umar Ibakhiev won by split decision in the men’s 46kg tournament against England’s Joseph Dowson.

Bella Zueva defeated Mirela Elisa Cojocaru of Romania in the women’s 57kg final, Irina Korobova held firm over Rihanna Holden of England at the women’s 63kg weight, Anastasiia Golunova defeated Hungarian Patricia Petriman in the women’s 50kg final and Kristina Borisenko was a unanimous victor over Zuzanna Golebiewska of Poland in the women’s 54kg final.

Daria Antipova won the women’s 75kg final against England’s Thabiso Moyo and Ekaterina Nesvetaeva was a first-round winner in the women’s 60kg final, defeating Milica Pantelic from Serbia by referee’s stoppage.

On the men’s side, Iman Magomedov defeated Moldova’s Chirill Slepoi in the 52kg final, Pavel Kondrashov won unanimously against Israel’s Artur Prohnevsky at 57kg, Prokhor Startsev became the 70kg champion by beating Bartosz Kuros from Poland and Vladislav Lavrinenko claimed 80kg gold over Zurab Oboladze of Georgia by split decision.

Russia would be denied another gold as Natalia Maria Semeniciuc of Romania defeated Kseniia Andreeva in the women’s 52kg final by split decision.

Finally, England would come away with a gold medal thanks to the efforts of Lily Bassett in the women’s 46kg contest, the victor over Armenia’s Syuzanna Ishkhanyan unanimously; and Turkey would stand atop the podium too after Buse Yazan won by split decision against Croatia’s Lorena Horvat in the women’s 66kg final.

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