In fairness, we note that the Russian “boxers” lost just the “gold” just in the weight in which they fully expected to win. Roman Romanchuk (weight category up to 91 kg) unexpectedly lost to Ukrainian Denis Poyazike. The second loser of the Russian that evening was the 23-year-old Oleg Komissarov (category up to 64 kg), who lost to the Bulgarian Boris Georgiev.
For this weight category, the head coach of the Russian national team Alexander Lebzyak was worried almost the most on the eve of the final. But the other fears of the mentor of the national team did not materialize. Nine Russian representatives won the finals, most of them convincingly, with a comfortable advantage in points.
The beginning was laid by 22-year-old David Hayrapetyan, speaking in the weight category up to 48 kg. His opponent was Italian Alfonso Pinto, whom Hayrapetyan defeated quite confidently - 36:24.
In the weight category up to 51 kg, 26-year-old Georgy Balakshin won the continental championship title for the third time. He was opposed by the representative of Azerbaijan Samir Mammadov. Another Azerbaijani, Shahin Imranov, went on to compete with 20-year-old Albert Selimov in the final of the weight category up to 57 kg. Experienced Imranov could not oppose anything to the young Russian, yielding 28:10 on points.
Another Azerbaijani, Rahib Baylarov, was "registered" in the category of up to 75 kg captain of the Russian national team Matvey Korobov, who won with a large "margin of safety" - 37:16.
Another young Russian, Ali Aliyev, in a decisive battle in the weight category up to 54 kg managed to avenge the hosts for the defeat of Oleg Komissarov. The judges recorded his victory over Detelin Darakliev with a score of 36:24.
With particular impatience, the audience expected the final duel with the participation of the champion of the Athens Olympics, Alexei Tishchenko, who moved to a more solid weight category - up to 60 kg. Aleksey, who during the tournament almost no one was able to provide decent resistance, met with the Armenian Hrachik Javakhyan. The advantage of the 22-year-old Russian was overwhelming. Even the injury sustained by Tishchenko in the semifinals did not affect the outcome of the battle - 39:15.
Finally, Islam Timurziev (category over 91 kg) put a bullet, which dealt with the Finnish giant Robert Helenius. The Russians once again proved that in the Old World they have no equal. However, this is not a reason to rest on our laurels. The European Championship has long been a measure of serious achievements in the world of amateur boxing. The main "showdown" to domestic boxers will be at world forums - against Cubans and Americans.
Europe championship. Plovdiv (Bulgaria)
Finals
Weight category up to 48 kg
Hayrapetyan (Russia) - Pinto (Italy) - 36:24
Weight category up to 51 kg
Balakshin (Russia) - Mammadov (Azerbaijan) - 43:30
Weight category up to 54 kg
Aliev (Russia) - Dalakliev (Bulgaria) - 36:24
Weight category up to 57 kg
Selimov (Russia) - Imranov (Azerbaijan) - 28:10
Weight category up to 60 kg
Tishchenko (Russia) - Javakhyan (Armenia) - 39:15
Weight category up to 64 kg
Georgiev (Bulgaria) - Komissarov (Russia) - 25:17
Weight category up to 69 kg
Balanov (Russia) - Genov (Bulgaria) - 32:12
Weight category up to 75 kg
Korobov (Russia) - Baylarov (Azerbaijan) - 37:16
Weight category up to 81 kg
Beterbiev (Russia) - Silla (Ukraine) - 34:23
Weight category up to 91 kg
Poyrazika (Ukraine) - Romanchuk (Russia) - behind a clear advantage in the 3rd round
Weight category over 91 kg
Timurziev (Russia) - Helenius (Finland) - 32:14
Kirill KAZAKOV