Athletes secure guaranteed prize money on day three of IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 12 Mar 2025
Niš, Serbia – Athletes secured spots in the quarter-finals today at the Čair Sports Center, and guaranteed themselves prize money on the first day of the round of 16 at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš, Serbia.
Quarter-finalists have been promised $10,000 for reaching this stage of their respective tournaments, with $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 awarded to the gold, silver and bronze medallists accordingly.
Balkibekova focused on next bout, not gold medal yet
Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkibekova progressed to the 50kg quarter-finals, defeating fellow World medallist Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco. The Kazakh boxer, who has both a World silver and bronze medal to her name, met Mouttaki, a three-time African champion and World bronze medallist. However, Balkibekova was a class above, winning comfortably by a unanimous decision to continue her quest for that elusive gold medal. She now meets Aysen Taskin of Türkiye, who bettered Thi Ngoc Tran Nguyen from Vietnam.
Balkibekova said: ‘After this fight, I was a little more confident and my next fight will be against Türkiye [Taskin]. I’ve never met her, but she is a good boxer. That’s why we prepare for every fight like it’s the last fight. Every boxer wants to win gold, but instead of moving forward [to gold] we first meet the opponents waiting in front of us and that is the first goal.’
Thailand’s top-seeded Chuthamat Raksat won by a split decision over Fatima Herrera Alvarez of Mexico; meaning her next opponent will be Hu Meiyi from China, who came out on top in a close match against Daina Moorehouse from Ireland.
Spain’s Laura Fuertes, a World bronze medallist, faced a tough test against Rinata Bezel of Russia, but emerged with the win by a 4-1 split decision. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s An Kum Byol awaits after beating Armenian sixth-seeded, Anush Grigoryan. Uzbekistan’s fourth seed Sabina Bobokulova advanced too, winning comfortably against Yerlin Isaura Quinones of Colombia. She now faces Zlatislava Chukanova of Bulgaria, who defeated Marjona Savriyeva of Azerbaijan by a unanimous decision.
Serbian top-seeded Natalia Shadrina looked in fantastic form in the 60kg tournament, emphatically beating Elida Kocharayan of Armenia and setting up a bout with Josefien Betist of Sierra Leone next, who defeated Anna Sorokina of Latvia. Russian third seed Nune Asatrian prevailed in a bout of great intensity, beating DPR Korea’s Won Un Gyong, meaning her next opponent is Bulgarian Svetlana Staneva, who defeated Li Qiange of China.
Second seed Gizem Ozer from Türkiye has advanced too, after a dominant display against Shoira Zulkaynarova of Tajikistan. In the quarter-finals, she will meet Miroslava Jedinakova of Slovakia, a comfortable winner against Kenyan Emily Juma. Kazakhstan’s fifth seed Viktoriya Grafeyeva cruised to victory over Sofia Legaki from Greece and fourth seed Sitora Turdibekova from Uzbekistan was a points winner over Thi Mai Chuc Ngo of Vietnam.
Serbian hearts were broken as one of their medals hopes, European champion Kristina Kuluhova, was eliminated by the top-seeded Thananya Somnuek from Thailand in the 63kg category. A bout review separated the two on the verdict, with the Thai boxer progressing to the final eight. Somnuek’s next opponent is Miriam Hernandez Gonzalez from Mexico, who impressively forced a referee’s stoppage in her match with Cynthia Mwai from Kenya.
Megan de Cler representing IBA-Netherlands won her opening contest against Odinakhon Ismoilova in convincing fashion. The athlete, who is funded by the IBA Financial Support Program, is now one match away from a World medal. Next, she faces tough competition in the form of Russian third seed Elena Babicheva, who looked in control in her bout against Loredana Marin from Romania.
Other wins came for Esmanur Lok of Türkiye by a first-round stoppage against Spain’s Mariana Soto Torres, setting up a match with second seed Aida Abikeyeva from Kazakhstan, who defeated China’s Zhao Shuoyu. Vietnam’s fifth seed Thi Linh Ha progressed by a split decision at the expense of Omailyn Alcala of Venezuela, meaning she now faces Jekaterina Sorokina of Latvia, who caused a second-round stoppage against fourth seed Sona Harutyunyan from Armenia.
Salivating 54kg quarter-final line-up shows many medals contenders
A star-studded quarter-final line-up has been confirmed at 54kg, with Kazakhstan’s three-time World medallist Zhaina Shekerbekova winning by a unanimous decision against Ariadna Gil Alonso of Mexico and next meets the home favorite Sara Ćirković – who won early in the second round by referee’s stoppage against Germany’s Melani Volkova. Moroccan top seed Widad Bertel advanced by a narrow margin in her bout against Paek Jin Hyang of DPR Korea. A bout review decided the verdict of the pair, who fought incredibly well. Bertal will now face Thi Kim Anh Vo of Vietnam, who defeated Azerbaijan’s Zeynab Rahimova.
An exciting quarter-final match is scheduled between Turkish boxer Hatice Akbas and Russia’s Karina Tazabekova. Akbas once again ended her match before the three rounds could be concluded – this time forcing a stoppage against Iulia Coroli of Moldova in the second round. Tazabekova, in turn, was the unanimous winner over Amina Faki of Kenya. Natnicha Chongprongklang of Thailand remains in contention after beating Angrlyris Lopez Mendez of Puerto Rico, as does second seed Johana Gomez of Venezuela, who won by a unanimous decision over Oyun-Erdene Nergui of IBA-Mongolia.
Moldazahanova emerges as title contender in 66kg category
Albina Moldazhanova provided one of the most impressive performances of the day, with the Russian forcing a referee’s stoppage in the second round against the 2023 World bronze medallist Zhou Pan of China in the 66kg weight category. She is rewarded with a last-eight showdown with Zhasmin Kizatova of Kazakhstan, who defeated Ivanusa “Nancy” Moreira from Cape Verde, the third seed, by a unanimous decision. Also, through on this side of the draw was Morocco’s Mounia Toutire over Mexican Maria Rodriguez Franco, and Uzbekistan second seed Navbakhor Khamidova, who defeated Grainne Walsh of Ireland on points.
Slovakia’s Tamara Kubalova’s win against Friza Asiko of Kenya means she will face the top seed Busenaz Surmeneli of Türkiye in the quarter-finals, while Romanian Crinuta Sebe’s opponent will be Anastasija Lukajic from Serbia after defeating Puerto Rican boxer Stephanie Pineiro Aquino.
Finally, five boxers booked their place in the 81kg quarter-finals, including Russian Saltanat Medenova the victor by referee’s stoppage within a minute of her bout with Veroiti Dolly Nena of French Polynesia. In the following contest, Hasnar Larti of Morocco dominated, defeating Elma Hajrovic of Serbia by referee’s stoppage.
Wang Xiaomeng from China claimed victory by a unanimous decision against Gulsaya Yerzhan of Kazakhstan, setting up her next match with Kenyan Elizabeth Andiego. Sokhiba Ruzmetova from Uzbekistan is through too, defeating Cuba’s first boxer to compete at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, Yoana Rodriguez Castillo, by a narrow split decision. Ruzmetova’s next opponent will be Turkish boxer Busra Isildar, who won by a unanimous decision over Sarah Scheurich of Germany.
IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2025 is live-streamed fully on the IBA YouTube channel. All draws, schedules and results are available on IBA website. Photos can be found on IBA Flickr channel.
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