Nine bouts took place during the first session of the Paris 2024 Boxing tournament, held at the North Paris Arena. Boxers competed in the Women’s 54kg, 60kg, and Men’s 63.5kg and 80kg weight classes.
Hsiao Wen HUANG (TPE) and Bojana GOJKOVIC (MNE) were the first to jump into the ring in the Women’s 54kg event. The Chinese Taipei boxer, who won bronze at Tokyo 2020, showcased her dominance, controlling the bout from the beginning, maintaining distance, and landing sharp and powerful blows targeting her opponent’s face. The experienced boxer from Taipei collected five 10/9 scores from the judges in the first two rounds, eventually securing a 5:0 unanimous decision win.
In the same weight category, Thai boxer Jutamas JITPONG took the spotlight in her bout against 20-year-old Sara CIRKOVIC from Croatia. Jitpong’s convincing performance secured her a 4:1 victory in the round of 32.
Also, Nigina UKTAMOVA (UZB) advanced in the tournament through a walkover against Yomna AYYAD (EGY).
In the Women’s 60kg class, Vietnam’s Thi Linh HA left no chance for Feofaaki EPENISA (TGA), securing a commanding 5:0 unanimous decision victory.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympians Maria Jose PALACIOS ESPINOZA (COL) and Agnes ALEXIUSSON (SWE) engaged the audience of the North Paris Arena in a thrilling bout. The 28-year-old from Stockholm took the lead in the first round, securing five 10/9 scores from the judges. In the second round, the Colombian boxer successfully counterattacked, turning the round in her favor with a 4:1. With both boxers giving their all in the third round, PALACIOS ESPINOZA landed some decisive punches to drive home the victory. With the same scoreline, Team Chinese Taipei celebrated the success of another boxer as Shih Yi WU (TPE) overcame Yeonji OH (KOR) via a unanimous decision.
In the Men’s 63.5kg event, strategy, along with some incredible punches, worked brilliantly for the 20-year-old Bulgarian talent Radoslav Simeonov ROSENOV as he registered a sharp 5:0 victory against Bakhodur USMONOV (TJK).
Obada ALKASBEH (JOR) and Dean CLANCY (IRL) put on an impressive show in their first bout at Paris 2024. The Jordanian stepped into the ring fiercely, taking round one 4:1 and edging 3:2 in the second round. The Irish counterattack in the third round targeted ALKASBEH’s face, but it didn’t help him earn the favor of all the judges. In the end, it was a 3:2 split decision win for the two-time Olympian from Amman.
In the Men’s 80kg weight division, Dominican Republic’s Cristian Javier PINALES amazed in his first bout at the Olympics. He used his explosive power complemented by excellent boxing skills to control today’s contest against Thailand’s Weerapon JONGJOHO, landing sharp and accurate jabs and sealing a commanding 5:0 win.
Action is due to resume in the evening session at 20:00 (CET) at the North Paris Arena, with 9 additional bouts to be contested in the Women’s 54kg, 60kg, and Men’s 63.5kg and 80kg weight classes.
Schedules and Results:
Find the event schedule and the results here.
