Junior Euros 2023: Team England secure a hat-trick of medals on Day Five

Team England guaranteed themselves another three medals at the EUBC Junior European Championships 2023 in Ploiesti, Romania, with four victories from five bouts on Day Five.

Day five saw a male and female split across the two sessions, with two male boxers in action during the morning session and three female boxers taking to the ring in the afternoon.

First up was Repton’s Humza Malik, as he took on Italy’s Sasha Mencaroni in an Under 46kg contest.

The foundations for victory were laid early, as Malik scored a standing eight count against his Italian opponent in the first round.

While the bout was closer than the unanimous decision suggested, Humza’s pinpoint straight right was the difference to provide him with victory.

England teammate Harry Scadeng then took to the ring, facing Emal Hamdam of Germany in an Under 48kg bout.

The Ropes & Glory boxer was at a significant height and reach disadvantage yet utilised his skillset to its maximum and imposed himself on the Hamdam and the bout.

A warning against the German in the second round for hitting after the break helped Scadeng’s cause, however, it wouldn’t be enough to take victory as the Repton boxer exited the Championships via a split decision.

After a short break between Sessions one and two, three female Team England boxers were scheduled to take to the ring all vying to secure at least a bronze medal to take home.

First up was reigning Junior European Champion Ruby White who faced Turkey’s Rabia Duman in an Under 48kg bout.

The Sturminster Newton boxer came out of the traps flying, demonstrating controlled aggression in a superb fashion by forcing a standing eight in the first round.

With Ruby in complete control, her Turkish opponent received a warning in the final round which ultimately sealed a unanimous decision victory in Ruby’s favour and at least a bronze medal to boot.

Team England was then tasked with a double-header, with boxers scheduled in bout four and five of the afternoon session.

Broadplain ABC’s Hollie Haskins was the first of those to take to the ring, as she faced Brunilda Barca of Italy in Under 50kg action.

Hollie started and continued at a ferocious pace forcing two standing eight counts on a stunned Italian in the first round.

Haskins quickly followed up with a further standing eight in the second round, leaving the referee no choice but to halt proceedings in favour of Hollie – who is now guaranteed at least a bronze.

Immediately after Worcester City boxer Caitlyn Wise took to the ring for an Under 52kg competition against Lamprini Giannakopoulou of Greece.

Wise got off to a dominant start, commanding the ring well and securing the first round in her favour.

However, Giannakopoulou showed her supreme fitness and skill to respond well and take the bout to the wire, with Caitlyn eventually seeing victory and at least a bronze medal via a 4-1 split decision.

Day Six Bouts

Morning Session

Bout 8: Female, Under 57kg – Ella Lonsdale v Sara Varga (Hungary).

Bout 11: Female, Under 60kg – Lexie Walker v Viktorie Jilkova (Czech Republic).

Bout 17: Female, Under 66kg – Rubi Smallwood v Elvan Sozkesen (Turkey).

Afternoon Session

Bout 4: Male, Under 50kg – Mohammad Safari v Subhan Babayev (Azerbaijan).

Bout 8: Male, Under 70kg – John Joe Carrigan v Anton Cherniakov (Ukraine).

Bout 18: Male, Over 80kg – Krzysztof Zakrzewski (Poland) v Leo Atang.