School Euros 23: Seven win on Day Seven

Team England won seven of their eight bouts on day seven, meaning the Three Lions will contest 11 finals on Friday’s Finals Day at the EUBC Schools European Championships 2023 in Maribor, Slovenia.

First up was the ever-popular Yashua Flemming of TM Boxing, as he faced Kyrylo Horbunov of Ukraine at Under 48kg.

The first round went comfortably in Flemming’s favour as he set about the contest in his usual composed style. A closer second round ensued with the Ukrainian forced to impose himself but, even under pressure, Yash was able to use his footwork to get himself out of trouble.

It was Yash’s to lose as he entered the final round and he didn’t disappoint, finding another gear to catch his opponent with excellent hooks on the move and book his place in the final via unanimous decision.

At the very same time, Serena Mali faced Ella Archibold of Ireland for a place in the Under 46kg female final.

The Cleary’s Gym girl struggled to make her mark in the first round as Archibold quickly took the centre of the ring – and the round.

The contest turned scrappy for the second and third rounds as Mali gave it her all but ultimately fell to a tight 4-1 split-decision defeat. On another day Serena would be in the final but she leaves with bronze and a great deal of pride from an excellent tournament.

It was a Cleary’s gym one-two as Jaya Kalsi took to the ring to face Myroslava Yefremova of Ukraine at Under 48kg.

Kalsi was straight on the front foot, delivering sharp two-punch combinations to assume control and take the first round.

While the bout was close, Jaya’s deceptive punch power stunned the Ukrainian on multiple occasions throughout the second and third rounds as she put on a performance of power and precision to take a 4-1 split decision and her place in the final.

Letitia McKee was next up for the Wolf Pack as she faced Carol Gurciullo of Italy at Under 51kg.

The Birkenhead Venture boxer displayed a powerful, commanding performance in the first round as she dominated her Italian opponent.

McKee used her lead hand to dominate the second and tee up her opponent for crashing backhands to take complete control of the bout.

A one-sided third round capped off a scintillating performance from the talented schoolgirl as she earned a unanimous decision and a gold medal contest.

Platinum Boxing’s Siobhan Haley was next up as she boxed Ireland’s Sophie Cullen Lawlor at Under 54kg.

Haley exuded confidence as she used her southpaw one-two hook and three-punch combinations to score well throughout the first round.

Vonny’s reach, speed and aggression were too much for her Irish opponent and she commanded the final two rounds. A standing eight count for Lawlor in the third round cemented a fine display as Vonny won unanimously and earned a place in the final.

The final schoolgirl in action was Rihanna Holden as she contested her second bout in two days facing Giada Lopez of Italy at Under 60kg.

The Phil Thomas boxer utilised her strength to put on a powerful showing and boss the first round.

A cluster of combinations in phased sequences stunned the Italian throughout the second and third rounds, as Holden booked her spot in the final via unanimous decision.

Over in Ring B, Luke Moore faced Under 60kg Armenian Arsen Karapetyan at the same time.

Clever footwork from the Henry’s Gym boxer allowed him to connect with long-range shots and comfortably take the first round.

Moore’s height advantage and superior reach made it difficult for Karapetyan to get any rhythm going and Luke capitalised on this to land crisp straight combinations.

A unanimous points decision victory sees Moore advance into the final after a quality performance against a relentless Armenian.

The final boxer for the Three Lions on day seven came in the form of William Loveridge, as he boxed another Armenian Feliks Papikyan at Under 63kg.

The Sporting Ring boxer got off to a great start as he picked his lead hands perfectly to snap his opponent’s head back consistently.

‘The Jab Master’ upped the frequency in the second round to take the first two rounds through an accomplished display. It was more of the same in third as Loveridge secured a unanimous decision and earned a place in Friday’s final.

Team England will contest 11 bouts on Finals Day of the EUBC Schools European Championships 2023, with eight schoolgirls and three schoolboys set to take to the ring.

Finals Day Schedule: