With five Team Scotland boxers competing in the semi finals today, it was always going to be a challenge for our guys to progress to the finals, predominantly against Russian opposition.
However, against the might of Russia, our boxers excelled and four achieved unanimous decisions to progress to finals of the 2013 Popenchenko Tournament which is a fantastic achievement. A massive well done to all four boxers.
Full semi final reports can be read below:
49kg – Banjia Wang (Chn) v Aqeel Ahmed (Sco)
Round 1 – Slow start to this contest both boxers having a good look at each other and providing the crowd with some excellent technical boxing. Aqeel began to get the measure of Wang as the round progressed with him getting the better of the exchanges towards the end.
Round 2 – Wang started the round off fast with flurries of lefts and rights as he attempted to stamp his authority on the contest. But as he came forward midway through the round he was caught with a well timed vicious right hand that stops him in his tracks. Aqeel then dictated the pace for the remainder of the round with hard and accurate shots.
Round 3 – Another slow start to this round from Wang who had to win this round convincingly if he was to progress to the final. Aqeel boxed a very composed round covering up well and landing with combinations and single shots. Wang surged forward swinging and looking for the big shot but Aqeel boxed a great final round which saw him take all three rounds on the judges scorecards.
Final Result: Scotland win 3-0
56kg – Stephen Tiffany (Sco) v Vyacheslav Mirzaev (Rus)
Round 1 – Very fast start by the Russian Vyacheslav who landed a couple of decent right hands early in the round. Stephen however was very composed and stuck to his game plan which paid off with him catching the Russian with a flurry of punches. By the end of the round Stephen was dictating the pace of the contest and forcing the Russian onto the backfoot.
Round 2 – Another quick start to the round by Vyacheslav which saw Stephen forced to block and move but again by the midway point of the round Stephen had got the upper hand and was again forcing the Russian back catching him with the much cleaner shots.
Round 3 – Saw power shots by the Russian which were taken comfortably on the gloves by Stephen with the more accurate scoring shots coming from the Scot which culminated in two straight lefts wobbling the Russian just at the final bell.
Final Result: Scotland win 3-0
60kg – Musheg Akopyan (Rus) v Mark McKeown (Sco)
Round 1 saw Mark keep the Russian at bay with long 1-2’s to the head and body forcing his opponent Akopyan to only work in short bursts but these were handled well by Mark and most of the Russians shots failed to hit there target.
Round 2 – Great movement from Mark and some quality combinations saw the Russian rely on throwing single shots in an attempt to unsettle Mark but to no avail. It was Mark who was the dominant force at the end of the round and a big right hand from Mark seemed to stiffen the Russian’s legs.
Round 3 – This was Mark McKeown’s round from start to finis. If there was any doubt after the first two rounds this was a round of clinical boxing from the Scot. Combinations to the head and body saw the Russian pushed back for the full three minutes – this was magnificent boxing!
Final Result: Scotland win 3-0
69kg – Lewis Benson (Sco) v Sergii Bykov (Rus)
Round 1 – Very even first round with both boxers respecting each others long jabs. There was very little in it although the Russian was guilty of clinching but round could have gone either way.
Round 2 – This was another evenly balanced round which saw Lewis start to catch the eye of the judges with the more accurate shots although the flow of the round was interrupted by the continued holding and clinching by the Russian.
Round 3 – With Lewis starting to gain the upper hand, Bykov was resorted to spoiling and fouling which saw both boxers in a heap on the canvas three times in the third round alone!
Final Result: Russia win 3-0
75 kg – Kieran Smith (Sco) v Zurah Luvhov (Rus)
Round 1 – Kieran started brightly boxing at range against his shorter Russian opponent catching him with combinations to the head and body giving himself a comfortable opening round.
Round 2 – Similar start to this round with the Russian looking to get in close to Kieran. However, he was kept at bay by the Scot who was catching him with accurate lefts and rights which saw the Russian glad to hear the bell at the end of the round.
Round 3 – Another great round for Kieran who kept the Russian at bay with his long range boxing snapping the Russians head back a few times with well timed straight lefts.
Final Result: Scotland win 3-0
All in all this was a very satisfying day with four of our boxers progressing to the finals.
Finals line up for Sunday 21 July 2013:
49kg – Ahmed (Sco) v Williams (Wal)
56kg – Tiffany (Sco) v Ormanev (Rus)
60kg – McKeown (Sco) v Saparbev (Rus)
75kg – Smith (Sco) v Koptyakev (Rus)
Boxing will commence at 1200hrs local time and we will bring you the results and full reports tomorrow.
