Ireland's national icon and three-time AIBA World Champion, 25-year-old Katie Taylor is one of the biggest star of the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships Qinhuangdao 2012. Taylor started this Monday 15 May with a spectacular show against one of the best African boxer, Tunisia's AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Rim Jouini. The Irish star did not give any chance to her Tunisian rival and secured an easy run to the next round.
US National Champion and Panamerican Champion Tiara Brown who began boxing in 2001, advanced to the quarter-final stage of the championships after beating India's strong Mandakini Chanu Kangabam. Brown led by 3:2 after the first round but Chanu equalized her disadvantage in the second two minutes while the US boxer dominated the second part of the contest and that was enough to keep her golden hopes.
Russia's European Championships bronze medallist Viktoriya Gurkovich Poland's current EU Champion Sandra Kruk who has got a very agressive fighting style. The tallest Russian fighter led by 7:5 after the first round but the Polish boxer equalized their contest very quickly and used up her extra energies in the second part of the bout. Kruk had more punches than her tiring Russian opponent and that resulted a great victory for the Polish boxer.
France's new spearhead, Malva Hammadouche had only one point advantage after the first round against Vietnam's current AIBA Junior World Champion Vuong Thi Vy who will be celebrating her 17th birthday only later this year. The French star dominated the contest from
Thailand's current Asian Champion and Asian Games silver medallist Tassamalee Thongjan is also a great favourite for a quota in the Olympic division. She had a tough opponent in the last 32 where she fought against Italy's lightweight No.1 Romina Marenda who competed at the Olympic Test Event last year. After six minutes fight the scoring showed draw 10:10 but Thongjan was able to re-new her tactic and eliminated her European rival by 13:10.
China's two-time AIBA World Championships silver medallist and Asian Games winner Dong Cheng claimed only a bronze medal in this year's Asian Championships in Ulanbaatar but despite of her relatively unexpected result, she has got more than a good chance to reach the quota to London. She opened the championships against Mexico's Erika Rosalba Cruz and advanced to the last 16 winning their fight by 18:7.
Russia's two-time AIBA World Champion Sofya Ochigava who is Katie Taylor's biggest rival at the lightweight class, made a great battle against Sweden's two-time European Championships bronze medallist 34-year-old Helena Falk. Ochigava had only a short leading after the first round and the experienced Swedish boxer also had powerful punches during the whole fight. The final scoring was 17:8 to Ochigava who will now meet another favourite, China's Dong Cheng in the last 16.
One of the most anticipated fight was between India's former AIBA World Champion Sarita Devi Laishram and Turkey's two-time AIBA World Champion Gulsum Tatar who went a division down this year. Devi was gold medallist at the Asian Championships in her new weight class in March and her good form was enough to beat the Turkish star due her excellent final round. Turkey's No.1 Gulsum Tatar was unbeaten since 2008 therefore her early elimination is a huge surprise.
Canada's last hope for the London Olympics three-time AIBA World Champion Mary Spencer Sweden's former AIBA World Champion 32-year-old Anna Laurell who is member of the national squad since 2000. The Swedish veteran started better in their contest but nobody thought that the tallest Laurell will be able to eliminate Canada's superstar in Qinhuangdao. The European boxer had eight points advantage before the final round which was enough for Laurell to advance to the last 16.
Dominican Republic's only competitor in Qinhuangdao, Panamerican Games silver medallist Yenebier Guillen had some excellent victories in the recent months and opened her participation against Poland's former European Youth Champion 22-year-old Lidia Fidura. The Dominican fighter controlled the first two rounds against her European rival but Fidura made a great final round and turned their battle.
Japan's two-time National Champion TV star Shizuyo Yamasaki started to box to lose her weight in 2008. Following her first victories in the sport she decided to continue it in a higher international level. She had to fight against Uzbekistan's newcomer Shakhnoza Nizamova but her Central Asian rival started better their speedy contest. Yamasaki adapted the speedness of the contest and the referee stopped the contest after the Japanese boxer's serious head blows. Yamasaki will now meet Germany's Andrea Strohmaier who eliminated Hungary's two-time AIBA World Champion Maria Kovacs by accepted scores.
Azerbaijan's former Russian National Champion Yelena Vystropova and Brazil's current AIBA World Champion at the 81kg weight class Roseli Feitosa both have got great expectations before the event. Vystropova found the winning tactic against her South American rival from the first minute of their contest and advanced to the last 16 where she will now meet Romania's Elena Turcin.
The second most expected fight of the fourth competition day was held between US teenager star, current Panamerican Champion 17-year-old Claressa Shields and England's middleweight No.1, AIBA World Championships silver medallist Savannah Marshall. Their contest brought a real battle and following the first equal round Marshall was able to eliminate the first US boxer who was the top favourite of the weight division. The English boxer's next opponent will be Norway's European Champion Lotte Lien while Shields lost her first ever contest in her career.
Netherlands' European Championships silver medallist and current EU Champion Nouchka Fontijn began boxing only in 2007 but she reached excellent results in last year. The Dutch boxer who was seeded as No.7 in Qinhuangdao, advanced to the Top 16 following her success over New Zealand's Hurricane Doyle.
Defending US National Champion and multiple Panamerican Champion Franchon Crews competed at the 2005 AIBA World Championships in Podolsk as well therefore her experiences in the international level were enough to beat France's National Olympic Trials silver medallist Sabrina Delarue at the light heavyweight class. Crews is one the biggest gold medal contender of this division and she proved her skills might be enough to reach her target in the global event.
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