The 7th edition of the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships continued with its second competition day in Qinhuangdao, China. Athletes trying to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games were in action in the Fly, Light and Middleweight divisions on Saturday.
Hungary's EU Championships silver medallist Katalin Ancsin opened the day's marathon program against Nigerian newcomer at international level Oluwatoyin Oladeji. After a tactical first round, Ancsin narrowly led 3:2 but then showed her skills in the latter stages to eliminate her African rival 14:7. The Hungarian boxer's next opponent will be China's two-time AIBA World Champion and Asian Games winner 24-year-old Ren Cancan.
Bolivia's AIBA Road to London Program member Nadia Barriga, who lives in Basel, Switzerland, made her debut in Qinhuangdao and eliminated Serbia's Nina Stojakovic in a tightly fought contest. Her next rival will be another European boxer, Czech Republic's Jana Juranova, who was silver medallist at the Grand Prix in Usti nad Labem.
DPR Korea's AIBA Women's World Championships silver medallist Kim Hye Song moved down a weight class after 2010, and needed to be at her very best to beat Canada's Panamerican Games winner Mandy Bujold. The North Korean fighter won the contest following a sensational third round and will now meet Romania's European Champion and AIBA World Championships silver medallist Steluta Duta, who is the sixth seed.
Vietnam's 19-year-old AIBA Youth World Championships silver medallist Luu Thi Duyen moved down two weight divisions this year in order to compete for an Olympic quota. The Vietnamese teenager shocked Sweden's European Championships silver medallist Shipra Engelke and advanced to the last 32 after winning their bout 18:12. She will now meet Kenya's Christine Shisoka Ongare with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Mexico's National Olympiad silver medallist Zaida Enriquez proved her power in her opening contest against Afghanistan's teenager Sumaiya Azizi. The referee stopped their unequal contest in the second round with the Mexican boxer leading 8:1.
Bulgaria's European Championships bronze medallist Stoyka Petrova started her hunt for glory in Qinhuangdao against an extremely strong boxer, Thailand's Indoor Asian Games winner Peamwilai Laopeam, a member of her national squad since 2001. Both fighters showed great footwork and technique but Petrova was more efficient and won 10:8.
Tunisia's great hope for the London 2012 Olympic Games, African Cup of Nations gold medallist Maroua Rahali, overwhelmed Indonesia's newcomer Warni Halawa. The final verdict in their contest was 24:9 to the North African boxer, who will now meet Venezuela's Panamerican Champion Karlha Magliocco.
Another Swiss-based boxer, Sarah-Joy Rae, who is competing for Jamaica, fought against Slovenia's AIBA Road to London Program member Mateja Rajteric. The Slovenian had a one point advantage after the first round but Rae turned their contest and advanced to the last 32.
In the Olympic Lightweight class, Tunisia's AIBA World Championships bronze medallist and African Champion Rim Jouini opened her participation in Qinhuangdao against Portugal's multiple-National Champion Juliana Rocha, who is studying criminology at the University of Porto. The tough North African boxer dominated their contest and advanced to the last 32 in where she will now meet Ireland's three-time AIBA World Champion Katie Taylor.
Russia's 25-year-old two-time AIBA World Champion and three-time European Champion Sofya Ochigava started her tournament by defeating Puerto Rico's current Panamerican Games winner Kiria Tapia 19:7.
Romania's former AIBA World Champion Mihaela Cijevschi Lacatus finished her boxing career in 2007 and worked as a coach in her national team but following the announcement that women's boxing would make its debut at the London 2012 Olympic Games, she came out of retirement. The 31-year-old Romanian Lightweight made a successful start by beating Mongolia's three-time National Champion Oyungurel Suvderdene 18:12.
A real Nordic battle was held between Finland's two-time EU Championships bronze medallist Mira Potkonen and Denmark's former European Youth Champion Diana Nadim. It was very equal in the first couple of rounds but Potkonen turned up the heat to eliminate her strong rival by winning the bout 26:13.
In the third Olympic division, 17-year-old US National Olympic Trials winner and current Panamerican Champion Claressa Shields, the top favourite in the Middleweight division, was just too strong for India's Asian Championships silver medallist Pooja Rani. Shields won each of the four rounds to eliminate her Asian rival 27:10, she will now meet England's AIBA World Championships silver medallist Savannah Marshall in what promises to be an explosive encounter.
Sweden's former AIBA World Champion, 32-year-old Anna Laurell battled with Bulgaria's former EU Champion Desislava Lazarova. The results table showed 6:6 after six minutes but the taller Laurell's clearer punches were enough for her to beat the Bulgarian veteran. The Swedish boxer will now be fighting Canada's three-time AIBA World Champion Mary Spencer in the next preliminary round.
Venezuela's Batalla de Carabobo Tournament winner Francelis Carmona defeated Ireland's top Middleweight Sinead Kavanagh. The South American boxer won each of the rounds with one point's difference and that was enough for her to secure her place in the next round.
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