Wu Zhonglin, Maimaiti Tuersunqiong and Wang Zhibao took three gold medals for China in the Boxam Tournament

The Boxam Tournament is a traditional European boxing event in Spain which was held in Murcia this week. Among the Asian National Federations China decided to send a team to the Boxam Tournament this time and their elite squad, which has been preparing to the Asian Games. Six of their boxers advanced to the finals and among them Wu Zhonglin, Maimaiti Tuersunqiong and Wang Zhibao claimed gold medals in Murcia.
Russia’s Volodya Mnatsakanyan eliminated Spain’s WSB talent Martin Molina in the semi-final of the light flyweight (49kg) which was a small sensation in Murcia. The Armenian-descent Russian boxer met for title with China’s WSB boxer Wu Zhonglin who was a hard target for Mnatsakanyan in the first round. The Chinese boxer found his best fighting distance quickly and caught his Russian rival with mainly jabs. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Wu Zhonglin who claimed China’s first gold medal in Murcia.
China’s Hu Jianguan was bronze medallist in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and returned to the national squad after an injury. The 25-year-old flyweight (52kg) boxer defeated Spain’s Juan Carlos Jimenez in the semi-final with strong footwork. The Chinese boxer was not able to repeat that dominant performance against Spain’s EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships silver medallist Gabriel Escobar and claimed silver medal in Murcia.
Two-time Olympian 30-year-old Maimaiti Tuersunqiong returned to the national team after four years of break and received the right to compete in the Boxam Tournament. The Chinese welterweight (69kg) boxer eliminated Denmark’s Islam Zaypulayev, Belgium’s Albert Pegba Bikoko and Hungary’s WSB boxer Andras Vadasz during his road to the finals. The Xinjiang-based veteran was a hard target for Belgium’s Ruben Veciunca in the final therefore he secured China’s second gold medal in Murcia.
Chen Daxiang is a newcomer in the Chinese national elite team but he was able to beat in the semi-final Russia’s EUBC European Youth Champion Sergei Murashev. Following his great upset which he caused in Murcia he faced with Spain’s experienced Alejandro Camacho in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg). The European boxer started their contest in different rhythm and landed clear punches in the first part of the bout. Chen found his best distance in the third round but his efforts were not enough to win their final in Murcia.

China’s WSB boxer Wang Zhibao has got experiences from the recent editions of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and he was impressed once again in Murcia. The Chinese boxer eliminated France’s Soheb Bouafia in the semi-final of the heavyweight (91kg) and delivered one of the best ever performances in the final against Russia’s Vladislav Ivanov. The Chinese boxer landed great hooks in the third round and his hard work delivered for him a gold medal in Murcia.
China’s super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer Mu Haipeng was involved to the national elite team in 2015 and he proved his strength in the semi-final when he faced with Spain’s Martino Rio Gonzalez. The 23-year-old Chinese boxer did strong performance also in the final where he was competitive for France’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Djamili Dini Aboudou Moindze. The French boxer was slightly better in their exchanges but Mu’s silver medal in Murcia was a top performance.