Bronze for Scotland’s Reese Lynch is the one British medal at World championships in Serbia. Daniel Herbert reviews on the final week of the match (November 1-6)
IN a typically disappointing World Championships for British boxers, Scotland’s Reese Lynch produced an surprising vivid spot by capturing an excellent bronze medal at 63.5kgs. The 20-year-old southpaw from the Springhill membership in Fauldhouse has by no means even been his nation’s champion within the elite age group, however he rose to the event fantastically at a two-week-long occasion dominated by the Cubans and Kazakhs.
Lynch was a part of a six-strong Scottish staff, separate from the 9 English boxers that shaped the GB entry. And he made all of it the best way to the semi-finals, the place he misplaced unanimously to Turkey’s Kerem Özmen. Three judges had him shedding solely 29-28, alongside two 30-27 scores for Özmen.
The tall, long-armed Lynch made a foul begin, getting harm by a proper for a standing rely within the first. However spherical two noticed him drop Özmen for a rely with a proper jab, just for the Scot to take one other toll from a proper within the final because the muscular Turk completed the stronger.
Lynch had reached the final 4 with a 3-2 break up determination over Sanatali Toltayev (Kazakhstan) within the quarter-finals. Reese used his peak and attain benefits to take the primary spherical clearly. He landed loads of lefts on an opponent eager to get inside, and though Lynch saved his fingers low, his fast reflexes enabled him to keep away from being tagged.
Rounds two and three had been a lot nearer, with Toltayev discovering the vary for his proper as Lynch was compelled to face his floor extra. It turned scrappy with many clinches, however from time to time Lynch discovered the house to fireplace off punches – particularly his again hand.
It was nip and tuck however Lynch bought it on two scores of 30-27 and a 29-28, towards two 29-28s for Toltayev.
He turned Scotland’s first medallist on the World Seniors, which have been going since 1974.
Lynch had reached the quarters with a unanimous victory over Adrian Thiam Creus within the final 16. The Spaniard opted to maneuver and keep on the surface in spherical one, which was a mistake – Lynch managed issues handily along with his velocity and motion.
Thiam got here ahead extra in spherical two, however loved little success as he simply couldn’t find the Scot’s chin. By the third, Lynch was selecting him off with crisp left fingers, then shutting him down when he bought inside.
In the long run it was a snug win for Lynch, with all 5 judges giving him each spherical at 30-27.
Lynch’s teammate Sam Hickey didn’t fare so effectively within the final 16, going out on a 4-1 break up determination to Gabrijel Veocic of Croatia.
Hickey, a 21-year-old from Dundee, obtained a 29-28 from one choose, solely for a similar rating plus three 30-27s to go the best way of Veocic, a taller opponent with longer arms.
Hickey tried jabbing his manner in, and landed a great left hook in spherical two, however typically struggled to get into vary with out being tagged. When Veocic completed the second strongly to take a 20-18 lead for 4 judges going within the final, Hickey needed to go on the offensive – however that merely allowed the Croat to get on his bike to guard his lead.
A strong right-hander was Sam’s largest success within the final, however Veocic responded with a mix to clinch his victory.
Closest to a medal for England was Conner Tudsbury, pipped on a 3-2 break up determination in an exhilarating 86kgs quarter-final by Belgium’s Victor Schelstraete.
If only one choose had scored yet another spherical in his favour, Tudsbury would have had victory and at the very least a bronze medal. Because it was, after three see-saw rounds all 5 judges scored 29-28, with Tudsbury having fun with a 4-1 break up in spherical one and Schelstraete successful the second by the identical margin to have all playing cards degree at 19-19 developing for the final.
Tudsbury was in his first World championships, Schelstraete his second; and the Manchester man was transferring up from 81kgs whereas the Belgian had moved down from 91. So Conner has a vivid future, judging by this efficiency.
With Schelstraete having fun with peak and attain benefits, Tudsbury attacked from the opening bell. The Belgian’s quick fingers enabled him to land jabs and rights, however Tudsbury held his personal in some tasty exchanges.
Conner’s left jab labored effectively and when the Belgian drained late in spherical two it appeared the momentum had swung the English boxer’s manner. However Schelstraete discovered new power within the final to land rights off the again foot and whereas Tudsbury saved the punches coming, his accuracy had declined with the Belgian edging house.
The quarter-final elimination of England’s Lewis Williams at 92kgs was a lot clearer-cut. He by no means bought going towards Uzbekistan’s rugged Madiyar Saydrakhimov and misplaced unanimously after three messy rounds.
One choose had Williams solely some extent down at 28-27, however the different 4 all scored 29-26 with every boxer having some extent deducted in spherical two for holding.
Williams had benefits in peak and attain however might by no means use them. Saydrakhimov bulled ahead and roughed him up, swinging away with each fingers and touchdown a lot, particularly the best, as Lewis didn’t transfer his head sufficient. Lewis did get his jab going a bit higher within the final, however the Uzbek was too robust and there was by no means any doubt concerning the winner.
Eire’s hopes of a medal got here right down to Kelyn Cassidy and his all-southpaw quarter-final towards Aliaksei Alfiorau (Belarus) at light-heavyweight, now set at 80kgs.
Giving hope to the Irish was the facial harm Alfiorau sustained throughout his powerful final 16 contest the evening earlier than: a bruised, reduce proper eye and cheek. However the Belarus man began extra aggressively than standard and shortly had Cassidy bleeding from the nostril. It survived a physician’s inspection and prompted the Irishman to let his fingers go, however all 5 judges awarded Alfiorau the session.
The medic examined Cassidy’s nostril once more early in spherical two, and though the Waterford man punched the air in triumph on the bell, as soon as extra Alfiorau bought the session on all playing cards. That enabled him to field on the transfer within the final, and though Cassidy tried to unsettle him, a 3rd physician’s inspection of his bleeding nostril interrupted his momentum. 5 30-27 playing cards made it unanimous for Alfiorau, who would go on to take the silver medal.
The day earlier than, within the final 16, Cassidy had demonstrated his potential when incomes a positive 4-1 factors determination over Tajikistan’s Shabbos Negmatulloev.
Cassidy began cautiously towards a robust, stocky opponent and dropped the opener for 3 judges. However Kelyn bought his jab working in spherical two, outboxing his slowing rival, and actually discovered his type within the final.
He picked off Negmatulloev with proper jabs and mixtures, exposing his lack of a plan B, and totally deserving his win on playing cards of 30-27 twice and 29-28 twice, towards a 30-27 for Negmatulloev.
The Tajikistan coach wagged a disapproving finger on the outcome, however there was no actual argument concerning the Irishman’s win.
With three golds for Cuba and two for Kazakhstan (who additionally had two silvers), these nations had been confirmed as powerhouses on this code of boxing.
Much less anticipated, however in no way unwelcome, was the resurgence of the USA underneath Irish coach Billy Walsh. The People bought 4 via to the finals with golds for Jahmal Harvey (57kgs) and Robby Gonzales (80kgs).
Japan additionally notched two golds via 54kgs Tomoya Tsuboi and 67kgs Sewonrets Okazawa, whereas the Russian Boxing Federation – competing underneath that title due to the IOC sports activities ban on the doping-plagued nation – had three finalists and a winner in Mark Petrovskii.
Nonetheless, the super-heavyweight’s 4-1 finals victory was helped by the extraordinarily doubtful scoring of spherical two, which Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan received clearly – just for 4 of the 5 judges to award it to Petrovskii.
Holding these championships solely three months after the Tokyo Olympics may appear odd, however these Worlds had been merely sustaining their place within the sport’s calendar; bear in mind, the Olympics had been postponed by a 12 months owing to the worldwide pandemic.
Evaluating requirements between the 2 occasions is difficult, with many Tokyo Olympians (together with 5 of the eight champions) not competing in Serbia. Nations like England and Eire despatched completely totally different groups, whereas France received three medals (together with gold for 60kgs Sofiane Oumiha) in Belgrade, courtesy of a trio of boxers who left Japan medal-less. The People, too, despatched a very totally different squad from Tokyo.
And whereas the Olympics had been contested at simply eight weights, these Worlds noticed motion in 13 divisions, which mixed with no qualifying tournaments being crucial meant a whopping 497 bouts.
The game’s worldwide governing physique AIBA had been stripped of the best to organise boxing in Tokyo by the IOC owing to numerous scandals. That meant the Val Barker Trophy, historically awarded to probably the most fashionable boxer at an Olympics, was not awarded in Tokyo (the prize belongs to AIBA, not the IOC or the Job Power it appointed to run the Video games boxing match).
So in Belgrade, AIBA handed the Val Barker prize to Cuba’s good Andy Cruz, who struck gold at 63.5kgs with a dominant unanimous finals victory over Reese Lynch’s conqueror Kerem Özmen.
Cruz, who received 63kgs gold in Tokyo, thus took his third Worlds title – two behind excellent compatriot Julio La Cruz, the 92kgs champion in Serbia (having received 91kgs gold in Tokyo). Cuba’s third winner in Belgrade was a newcomer to this degree in middleweight Yoenlis Hernandez.
Reaching a exceptional double was Ukraine’s good 19-year-old Yuri Zakharieiev, who in April received the World Youth Championships at 69kgs and right here adopted with gold at 71kgs.
As a part of its bid to spice up the Olympic-style code, AIBA introduced prize cash of $100,000 for all gold medallists, $50,000 for silver medallists and $25,000 for bronze medallists (all US {dollars}).
