The traditional European boxing event held in Lithuania, the Algirdas Socikas Tournament was another active preparation for the athletes priming themselves for the London 2012 Olympic Games which begin on 28 July.
24-year-old AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Andrew Selby became the first Welshmen to win a title at the European Championships last year and the Flyweight star, who will be representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games, proved yet again he is one of the big gold medal contenders this summer after triumphing in Lithuania. Following an impressive victory over Australia's Jackson Woods in the semi-finals, Selby was awarded the title after Ireland's 20-year-old Chris Phelan abandoned their final.
England's AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist and European Champion Luke Campbell, who has been fine tuning his preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games, has got big expectations for himself when the biggest show on earth takes place on his home soil this summer. The European Bantamweight No.1 dominated Russia's Roman Romanenko to win 16:8 and secure a second gold medal for the British squad in Lithuania.
In the semi-finals of the Lightweight class, Russian National Championships silver medallist, 24-year-old Ruslan Kamilov, defeated Ireland's European Championships bronze medallist Eric Donovan 11:7 after a controlled display. Kamilov then ensured a Russian gold medal following his opponent's, Lithuania's National Champion Gytis Vaitkus, walk-over in the final.
Lithuania's best youth boxer, 18-year-old European Junior Championships bronze medallist Eimantas Stanionis will be one to watch at the upcoming AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Bangkok after he showcased his growing credentials in the front of his local fans. The teenager claimed his first tournament title at the elite level by defeating Australia's London Olympian Jeff Horne 24:16.
Welterweight Oceania Champion Cameron Hammond from Australia, who will be lining up at the London 2012 Olympic Games, eliminated Ireland's Beijing Olympian John Joe Joyce in the semi-finals before overcoming the challenge of Denmark's 19-year-old Allan Mahfoud 10:7 to take the gold medal.
Ireland's 21-year-old European Youth Champion Jason Quigley achieved his nations' only gold medal in Lithuania. The Irish Middleweight controlled his fight against Denmark's Belal Matouk from the first bell which resulted in an impressive 18:5 victory. Quigley will be one of Ireland's big hopes in the next Olympic era.
Youth Olympic Games winner and AIBA World Championships quarter-finalist, 20-year-old Australian Damien Hooper advanced to the Light Heavyweight final in Lithuania and defeated the host nation's new hope Donatas Macanskas 12:7 to secure his second tournament victory this month.
Lithuanian veteran Vitalijus Subacius, a member of his national squad since 2000, had the experience to beat his younger compatriot Tadas Tamasauskas 9:4 in the Heavyweight final. Subacius had failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games but he will at least be pleased to win the Algirdas Socikas Tournament.
Super Heavyweight sensation, AIBA World Championships silver medallist Anthony Joshua is one of the top favourites to be crowned on his home turf at the Olympic Games. The British Londoner, who only started boxing at 18, demonstrated once again why he is held in such high regard with several polished displays in Lithuania. The English star eliminated Sean Turner in the quarters, then knocked out Australia's Johan Linde in the semis. With Lithuania's Aidas Petruskevicius unable to take to the ring in the final due to a hand injury, Joshua was awarded the gold medal in Lithuania.
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