19-year-old Durkacz reaches the final of the Stamm Tournament after defeating an American
19-year-old Damian Durkacz (64 kg) put Polish fans in an excellent mood. The Polish boxer, one of our three representatives in the semifinals of the 35th Feliks Stamm Memorial Tournament, caused a major upset. The protégé of coach Ireneusz Przywara convincingly defeated on points the American Freudis Rojas, a bronze medalist at the World Championships in Hamburg (2017) and the Pan American Championships in Tegucigalpa (2017).
This was Damian’s third appearance in the tournament and, without a doubt, his best. The boxer from Knurów boxed effectively and impressively. He surprised his opponent with his speed, dynamism and unconventional attacking solutions. He also impressed with his reflexes in defense. The judges had no doubt that the better man was last year’s European Youth Championships bronze medalist from Antalya, who made his debut among the seniors this year.
This is Durkacz’s greatest success, although we believe it will not be his last. Will he follow in the footsteps of Tomasz Adamek, who was coached by Przywara years ago? Anything is possible.
The other two Polish semifinalists, Mateusz Kostecki (69 kg) and Rafał Perczyński (75 kg), had no reason to celebrate. Both gave everything they had, but lost on points to leading Russian boxers – Sergey Sobylinskiy and Gleb Bakshi. In both cases, however, the bouts were tough and closely contested.
Tomorrow is the final day of the 35th Feliks Stamm Memorial Tournament. The finals will feature six Kazakhs and six Russians, three Turkmen, and one boxer each from the Philippines, Jordan, Qatar, Mongolia and Poland. Our only representative, Damian Durkacz, will face Kazakh Bekdaulet Ibragimov, who defeated Mongolia’s Bayarkhuu Ganbataar on points in the semifinals. We’re keeping our fingers crossed!
SEMIFINAL RESULTS [March 15, 2018 – winners listed first]
49 KG
Bator Sagaluyev (Russia) – Stephan Acosta (USA) RSC.K 3
Enkhmandakh Kharhuu (Mongolia) – Jabar Meleyev (Turkmenistan) 5-0
52 KG
Zarip Jumayev (Turkmenistan) – Michael Angeletti (USA) 5-0
Ian Clark Bautista (Philippines) – Vassili Egorov (Russia) 4-1
56 KG
Mohammad Alwadi (Jordan) – Mario Bautista Jr. (Philippines) 3-2
Ilyas Suleymenov (Kazakhstan) – Duke Ragan (USA) 5-0
60 KG
Khursant Imankuliyev (Turkmenistan) – Junel Contancio (Philippines) 5-0
Artur Subkhankulov (Russia) – Kevin Montano (USA) 5-0
64 KG
Damian Durkacz (Poland) – Freudis Rojas (USA) 5-0
Bekdaulet Ibragimov (Kazakhstan) – Bayarkhuu Ganbataar (Mongolia) 5-0
69 KG
Sergey Sobylinskiy (Russia) – Mateusz Kostecki (Poland) 4-1
Aslanbek Shymbergenov (Kazakhstan) – Magomed Schachidov (Germany) 3-2
75 KG
Abay Tolesh (Kazakhstan) – Javier Martinez (USA) 4-1
Gleb Bakshi (Russia) – Rafał Perczyński (Poland) 5-0
81 KG
Georgiy Kushitashvili (Russia) – Daniel Żan Daskalo (Israel) 4-1
Adilbek Niyazimbetov (Kazakhstan) – Sean Hemphill (USA) 5-0
91 KG
Anton Pinchuk (Kazakhstan) – Juri Havel (Czech Republic) 4-1
Arslanbek Achilov (Turkmenistan) – Hussein Aishaish (Jordan) 5-0
+91 KG
Ashraf Amir El-Saey (Qatar) – Baky Toychiyev (Turkmenistan) 5-0
Magomed Omarov (Russia) – Ayboldy Daurenuly (Kazakhstan) 3-2
FINAL BOUTS
49 KG Bator Sagaluyev (Russia) – Enkhmandakh Kharhuu (Mongolia)
52 KG Zarip Jumayev (Turkmenistan) – Ian Clark Bautista (Philippines)
56 KG Mohammad Alwadi (Jordan) – Ilyas Suleymenov (Kazakhstan)
60 KG Khursant Imankuliyev (Turkmenistan) – Artur Subkhankulov (Russia)
64 KG Damian Durkacz (Poland) – Bekdaulet Ibragimov (Kazakhstan)
69 KG Sergey Sobylinskiy (Russia) – Aslanbek Shymbergenov (Kazakhstan)
75 KG Abay Tolesh (Kazakhstan) – Gleb Bakshi (Russia)
81 KG Georgiy Kushitashvili (Russia) – Adilbek Niyazimbetov (Kazakhstan)
91 KG Anton Pinchuk (Kazakhstan) – Arslanbek Achilov (Turkmenistan)
+91 KG Ashraf Amir El-Saey (Qatar) – Magomed Omarov (Russia)
