Part Two: The best of the rest of finals day at the AIBA 7th Women’s World Championships
[by Michael O’Neill]
China’s President’s Cup winner 20-year-old Xu Shiqi opened her light flyweight final with more effective punches against Philippines’ AIBA Women’s World Championships bronze medallist Josie Gabuco and led by 5:3 after four minutes fight. The Chinese boxer who moved down a division before the tournament lost the third round and had only one point advantage before the final frame. The 25-year-old Filipino fighter changed the fighting distance in the final round and that resulted a close victory for Gabuco which was the first ever gold medal for the Philippines in the history of the AIBA Women’s World Championships.
Russia’s AIBA World Championships bronze medallist Aleksandra Kuleshova is only 22 but she is member of the national squad since 2008. Her final opponent was Italy’s veteran Terry Gordini who caused the biggest surprise in the bantamweight class during this tournament advancing to the gold medal contest. Gordini could keep the safe distance and had only two points deficit after two rounds but Kuleshova were more effective in the second part of their contest and won the only Russian gold medal in Qinhuangdao.
US National Champion and Panamerican Champion 24-year-old Tiara Brown who lives in Florida fought for the featherweight gold medal against Poland’s EU Champion and powerful Sandra Kruk who used her magnificent fighting style during the whole competition. The tallest US boxer had more than enough advantage after the second round but Kruk also stepped up to the gas and almost turned their spectacular battle in Qinhuangdao where finally Brown won the World Championships’ title.
DPR Korea’s AIBA World Championships bronze medallist and former Asian Champion 28-year-old Pak Kyong Ok met with Poland’s European Youth Champion talented Magdalena Stelmach at the final of the light welterweight division. The tallest Polish boxer tried to use up her longer hands while Pak operated with quick jabs during the contest. The North Korean boxer was more effective and motivated from the first seconds and that resulted for her a 10:5 triumph. Pak’s victory was the seventh North Korean World Championships’ title in the history of the competition since 2001.
Ukraine’s European Championships silver medallist Maria Badulina eliminated Netherlands’ top favourite Marichelle De Jong in the welterweight semi-final and advanced to the gold medal contest where she met with US National Champion Raquel Miller who lives in San Francisco and began boxing only in 2010. Both boxers were fluttery in the first frame while Badulina dominated the bout from the second round and used up her longer hands against her North American opponent. The Ukrainian boxer had and excellent right jab in the last round and finally won the gold medal defeating her rival by 14:8.
China’s AIBA Youth World Champion and current Asian Champion 19-year-old Yuan Meiqing eliminated Russia’s current European Champion Svetlana Kosova in the semi-final and met with multiple Panamerican Champion US star Franchon Crews for the gold. Following the first equal tactical round Yuan Meiqing used up the local fans’ extra energies and operated with serious punches which resulted for her an impressive 18:11 victory over her US rival. Yuan Meiqing who lives in Tianjin City became the youngest gold medallist of the 7th AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
China’s most popular team member, AIBA World Championships bronze medallist and Asian Champion Li Yunfei made her real breakthrough in Qinhuangdao where she fought for the heavyweight gold against Kazakhstan’s Asian Championships silver medallist and Turkish Prime Ministry Tournament winner southpaw Yulduz Mamatkulova. Li had only one point advantage after the first round but she build up a six points leading before the last frame. The Chinese competitor received a warning in the final round and Mamatkulova keep moving to forward but Li won their contest by clear 21:13 which resulted the third gold medal for the host and happy nation.
Video of the Semi-Finals, and the Finals!
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