In the boxing ring

In Krupki, Minsk Region, the ninth republican boxing tournament dedicated to Victory Day took place. Teenagers born between 1996 and 2002 participated. The tournament featured weight categories from 35 to 91 kg inclusive.

Lepel district was represented at the tournament by three young boxers, trainees of coach Alexander Konovalov.

In the category up to 35 kilograms, Nikita Kozheka, a student of Secondary School No. 3 born in 2001, competed. The young man has only been boxing for one year, and this was his first appearance at a competition of this level. In the first bout, Nikita faced Vitaly Balgov from Borisov and won by points. The second bout, against the local favourite Danila Shyshko, turned out to be surprisingly tough but also victorious. As a result, the Lepel resident took first place.

The category up to 44.5 kg was represented by Lyosha Puzanov, a student of the gymnasium born in 1999. Last year, the young man won the regional boxing championship, earning his first junior rank. Therefore, this season was expected to be equally successful. In the first bout, everything went favourably, and Lyosha convincingly defeated Kirill Kiryanov from Minsk. However, in the second bout, his opponent was again a Minsk resident, Lyosha Sirosh, who managed to turn the situation around and defeat the Lepel resident on points. Alexey Puzanov took second place.

Evgeny Markovsky, also a student of the gymnasium, born in 2000, competed in the weight category up to 46 kg. His first opponent was Maksim Mikhnenko from Vitebsk. Zhenya won the bout. On the second day, his opponent was Evgeny Varchenya from Uzda. The fight was very intense, and Zhenya Markovsky won. On the final day of the tournament, his opponent was Dima Shevtsov from Vetka, who also could not withstand Zhenya's pressure. The Lepel resident won all three bouts on points and took first place.

* * *
From May 9th to 11th, Zhenya Markovsky and Lyosha Puzanov participated in the Vitebsk Region Boxing Championship among specialized educational and sports institutions and additional education institutions in memory of Anatoly Kolchin.

On the first day, Zhenya boxed against Artur Babayants from Vitebsk, on the second day his opponent was Daniil Boris from Novopolotsk, and on the third – Nazar Lapunov from Vitebsk. The first two bouts were won by the Lepel resident, with victory achieved on points, but in the last one, luck turned away. Perhaps the fatigue from several intense days made itself known. Zhenya took second place.

Lyosha Puzanov was lucky at first. According to the tournament regulations, he was supposed to box only twice. In the first fight, he met Zhen Karaban from Polotsk, whom he defeated on points. The next opponent was Vladislav Korsak from Novopolotsk. Lyosha suffered a defeat on points.

Both boys took second place in their weight categories.

Following the results of the tournaments held, Lepel masters of the leather glove met the standards for awarding further sports ranks.

Vasil MATYRKA.