Bocskai Memorial Tournament - Debrecen, Hungary

[Dennis]

The Bocskai Memorial Tournament started on Feb 10th and continues through Feb 13th.
176 boxers from 19 countries will take part in the competition over four days. Some of the top boxing countries are present with many Olympians, Olympic medalists, World Championship medalists and continental champs competing in the tournament. Hungary as the host country has three or more boxers in most weight classes.

The countries present include Russia, Cuba, Belarus, France, Poland, England/Wales/Scotland, Germany, Iran, Lithuania, Morocco, Finland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Israel, Moldova, and host nation Hungary.

[Dennis]

Great Britain's team consisting of boxers from England, Wales and Scotland seemed to be a strong team. Tom Stalker defeated European Champion Lenoid Kostaliev of Russia in the preliminary round 13-8, while Khalid Yafai lost to Veaceslav Gojan, Moldova's Olympic bronze medalist 7-4.

The GB team:
51kg Khalid Yafai (Birmingham City Police)
54kg Andrew Selby (Wales)
60kg Tom Stalker (St Aloysius ABC, Liverpool)
64kg Bradley Saunders (South Durham ABC)
81kg Obed Mbwakongo (Lynn ABC, London)
91kg Stephen Simmons (Scotland)

[Dennis]

I really wish Team USA would have gone to this event. However, what I would really like to see is our team go to a multi-nation competition where the team do a round robin so win or lose our boxers would compete 5 times. This would require that 6 countries would participate, but I think it would be great experience.

[Dennis]

Some of the boxers who will be competing in the tournament:
Two reigning AIBA world champions and one former one are taking part in the tournament this year: virtuoso Roniel Iglesias of Cuba (64kg), Yegor Mekhontsev of Russia (91kg) and Chicago world champion Sergey Vodopyanov of Russia (57kg).

In addition, spectators have the pleasure of watching five Beijing Olympic medalists, European champions David Ayrapetyan (48kg) and Leonid Kostylev (60kg), both from Russia, Asian champion Ali Mazaheri of Iran (91kg), African champion Ahmed Barki of Morocco (75kg), and the Cuban Panamerican champions Yankiel Leon (54kg), Idel Torriente (60kg), Jose Angel Larduet (81kg), Osmay Acosta (91kg) and Erislandy Savon (+91kg).

Fans will not be disappointed watching 12 of the 44 AIBA World Championships 2009 medalists, including Misha Aloyan and Andrey Zamkovoy of Russia, John-Mikael M'Bumba of France, Ronny Beblik of Germany and Gyula Kate of Hungary, or seeing the return of 2007 Chicago World Championships bronze medalist Bradley Saunders of England who has been out of competition due to an injury.

[Dennis]

In the 91kg class, 3 out of the 4 medalists from the 2009 World Championships are present with only Usyk from Ukraine not present. In the preliminary round Yegor Mekhontsev, Russia, defeated Osmay Acosta, Cuba, by a score of 7-2.

[Dennis]

Other noteworthy results:
60kg: Rachid Azzedine, France, defeated Cuban Yasnier Toledo Lopez 4-3.
64kg: Rosniel Iglesias, Cuba, defeated Driss Moussaid, Morocco, 3:2
64kg: Bradley Saunders, England, defeated Gyorgy Varju, Hungary, 6:2
75kg: Victor Cotiujanschi, Moldova, defeated Cuban Rey Eduardo Recio 8:4

[Dennis]

Great Britain had 5 of their 6 boxers make it to the semi-finals. However, the semi-finals weren't as kind to them.

Beijing Olympian Bradley Saunders lost in the semis to AIBA World Champion Roniel Iglesias of Cuba 6-2.

At lightweight Tom Stalker lost to Polish boxer Michal Syrowatka 7-5.

At heavyweight GB (Scotland) boxer Stephen Simmons' lost via walkover to Russia's Egor Mekhontsev due to an injury. Simmons had shutout his opponent in the quarter-finals defeating his opponent by a score of 7-0.

The results for light-heavyweight Obed Mbwakongo are unknown at this time, but he was facing Cuba's Jose Lauduet in the semi-finals.

The lone boxer to win was Andrew Selby who is now through to the finals of the competition.

[Dennis]

Partial results from the semi-finals:

57 kg: Livan Hennen Badevilla (CUB) defeated Walid Belaoura (FRA), 5-2.

64 kg: Samir Machrouh (FRA) defeated Peter Tar (HUN), RSC-1.

69 kg: Balazs Bacskai (HUN) defeated Jaoid Chiguer (FRA), 11-3.

91 kg: John Michael M'Bumba (FRA) defeated Eugenijus Tutkus (LIT), 4-2.

Now M'Bumba will face Mehkontsev in the 91kg finals. This is the 2009 World Chp Bronze medalist going up against the 2009 World Chp Gold medalist.

[Dennis]

The Finals.
64 kg: Samir Machrouh (FRA) defeated Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo (CUB) on points (2-1).
91 kg: Egor Mehontsev (RUS) defeated John-Michael M'Bumba (FRA) by RSC-2 or RET-2.

[Dennis]

Finals:
48kg: Istvan Lakatos (HUN) vs David Ayrapetyan (RUS)
51kg: Olandy Regalado (CUB) vs Norbert Kalucza (HUN)
54kg: Vislan Dalkhayev (RUS) vs Andrew Selby, Wales (GB)
57kg: Livan Herrera (CUB) vs Sergey Vodopyanov (RUS)
60kg: Michał Syrowatka (POL) vs Miklos Varga (HUN)
64kg: Rosniel Iglesias (CUB) vs Samir Machrouh (FRA)
69kg: Andrey Zamkovoy (RUS) vs Balazs Bacskai (HUN)
75kg: Maxim Gazizov (RUS) vs Victor Cotiujanschi (MLD)
81kg: Jose Larduet (CUB) vs Nikita Ivanov (RUS)
91kg: John M'Bumba (FRA) vs Egor Mekhontsev (RUS)
91+kg: Yousef Abdelghani (ISR) vs Robert Alfonso (CUB)

[Dennis]

The teams with boxers in the finals. The two boxing powerhouses, Russia and Cuba, having multiple boxers in the finals is not surprising. However, Hungary having 4 in the finals even with having multiple entries per weight class is a little surprising. There might have been some home-cooking with the judging.
Russia – 7
Cuba – 5
Hungary – 4
France – 2
Great Britain – 1
Poland – 1
Moldova – 1
Israel – 1

[Dennis]

Partial final results:
48 kg: David Hayrapetyan (Rus) def Istvan Lakatos (HUN) 6:3
54 kg: Andrew Selby (GB) def Vislan Dalhaev (RUS) 13:4
57 kg: Sergey Vodopyanov (RUS) def Liwa Herrera (CUB) 14:2
64 kg: Samir Machrouh (FRA) defeated Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo (CUB) 2:1
69 kg: Balazs Bacskai (HUN) def Andrew Castle (RUS)
75 kg: Maxim Gazizov (RUS) def Viktor Kotsudyanskim (MLD) 2:1
81 kg: Nikita Ivanov (RUS) def Jose Lopez Lardueta (CUB) 13:10
91 kg: Egor Mekhontsev (RUS) def John M'bumba (FRA) RSC-2

[Dennis]

Finals - full results
48kg David Ayrapetyan RUS Istvan Lakatos HUN 6:3
51kg Olandy Regalado CUB Norbert Kalucza HUN +7:7
54kg Andrew Selby WAL Vislan Dalkhayev RUS 13:4
57kg Sergey Vodopyanov RUS Livan Herrera CUB 14:2
60kg Miklos Varga HUN Michał Syrowatka POL 10:3
64kg Samir Machrouh FRA Rosniel Iglesias CUB 2:1
69kg Balazs Bacskai HUN Andrey Zamkovoy RUS 9:0
75kg Maxim Gazizov RUS Victor Cotiujanschi MLD 2:1
81kg Nikita Ivanov RUS Jose Larduet CUB 13:10
91kg Egor Mekhontsev RUS John M'Bumba FRA RSC 2
+91kg Yousef Abdelghani ISR Robert Alfonso CUB 2:0

[Dennis]

Ok, it is a little surprising that only 1 Cuban won gold. Alfonso losing to the Israel SHW is a shocker. 2 Hungarian gold medalistswith a third losing on a tie-breaker is amazing.