Australiaâ€™s Anja Stridsman surprises the world in the Boxam Womenâ€™s Tournament in Castellon

Published Tue 02 Oct 2018

Big thanks to AIBA for the following article about Anja Stridsmans recent performance at the Boxam Women's Tournament in Spain.

Australia’s Anja Stridsman surprises the world in the Boxam Women’s Tournament in Castellon

The Boxam Women’s Tournament was held with the participation of 14 strong countries in the city of Castellon de la Plana in Spain which was the next preparation event for the upcoming AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Australia’s Anja Stridsman made the show in the day of the finals when she defeated a star boxer Mira Potkonen which was the Finnish athlete’s first loss since November 2016.

The junior, youth and elite women boxers were also able to attend in the Boxam Women’s Tournament which is a traditional event in the European boxing map but delegations arrived also from the American and Oceanian continents. Due the high number of participants the local organizers had to divide the boxers into two groups in three weight classes.

United States’ AMBC American Women’s Champion Virginia Fuchs eliminated France’s No.1 Delphine Mancini in a top elite flyweight (51kg) bout on Day1 and she continued her winning path against Spain’s Maria Gonzalez in the semi-finals. The top US boxer, who is a medal contender in the upcoming AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, used her unpredictable movements to catch Australia’s Taylah Robertson in the final. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the virtuoso US boxer who proved world class performance.

In the second United States vs. Australia final at the Boxam Women’s Tournament AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Christina Cruz had to face with Kristy Harris. Cruz, who is the most experienced US woman boxer in their current national elite team, received tough punches from the Aussie girl who just moved up to the bantamweight (54kg). Three-time AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships competitor Harris landed clear punches in the second part of the bout and defeated her top rival in Castellon de la Plana.

Puerto Rico’s Ashley Ann Lozada moved down to the featherweight (57kg) and she claimed the title at the Central American & Caribbean Games two months ago. The Puerto Rican boxer was too experienced for Hungary’s EUBC European Confederation Women’s Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist 19-year-old Angela Nagy in the final of the Boxam Women’s Tournament. The Puerto Rican was confident, moved ahead more than her Hungarian rival and deserved her unanimous success in the final.

Puerto Rico’s best junior boxer Kristel Rosado Ortiz also shined in the competition and she knew her Spanish rival Gisselly Nicole Salcedo well. The 16-year-old Puerto Rican and her Spanish opponent absolutely gave in everything in each of the three rounds and their spectacular bout was much above the junior level. The final verdict was split decision to the Puerto Rican talent but Salcedo also proved she could be a future star.

Finland’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner and EUBC European Women’s Champion Mira Potkonen did not lose any bout since November 2016 but she had to attend in the final of the lightweight (60kg) with illness therefore the star of the category could not deliver her top form in Castellon de la Plana. Australia’s Commonwealth Games winner Anja Stridsman proved strong development in the recent two years and her stamina was enough to beat Finland’s star winning the bout by split decision. Stridsman used a well-built tactic against her Finnish rival and she was able to follow it until the end of the final gong.

United States’ Naomi Graham and Australia’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist Caitlin Parker have done a heroic final at the Boxam Women’s Tournament. The Aussie middleweight (75kg) boxer tried to overcome the US hope in the attacks but she was successful only in a few parts of their final. Graham, who attended at the Astana 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, controlled the final round and won the title of the weight class in Castellon de la Plana.

United States’ Krystal Graham-Dixon was stronger than Hungary’s Boglarka Brunner in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg) but the European boxer used her impressive footwork to avoid the American shots. Graham-Dixon caught her inexperienced Hungarian rival in a few times and won the gold medal in Castellon de la Plana. In the next US vs. Hungary bout Danielle Perkins stopped Adrienn Juhasz in the third round following her tough combinations and won the title of the heavyweight (+81kg).

List of the winners in the Boxam Women’s Tournament

Women’s Junior 50kg: Kristel Rosado Ortiz, Puerto Rico