(MAR 15)
Only two women's weights at this year's Gee Bee international
tournament in Helsinki which ended Sunday, 51kg and 60kg. The
outcome was one Gold each for women’s boxing ‘superpower’ China
and for host nation Finland.
In this the 34th edition, some 92 Boxers (81 Men but only 11
Women) took part at the Urheilutalo Sport Hall.
China's Piaopiao Liu took the 51kg title despite a spirited
performance by Finland's Lausti Marjut, the end result being a
2:1 decision in favour of the Chinese woman.
The Finn had, perhaps surprisingly, herself gained a 2:1 victory
over England's Lisa Whiteside in the semi-final on Saturday.
Marjut has been a member of the Finnish national squad since
2009, whilst Piaopiao Liu accounted for Sweden’s Helena Envall
on a unanimous 3:0 decision.
The final of the 60kg division saw two of the world's top
lightweights in action as a result of semi-final bouts in which
Mira Potkonen overcame Sweden's Ida Lundblad 3:0 with a similar
scoreline in the other bout between Junhua Yin of China and
Finland's Erika Tarvainen.
An encouraging performance this from Tarvainen.
In a hard fought battle for supremacy, it was Potkonen who
emerged victorious in the final with a narrow, split decision
against the Chinese champion. It was her fourth Gee Bee title –
a record.
In the latest AIBA Women's World Ranking list at 60kg, Junhua
Yin is ranked no.2 behind the Olympic Gold medallist and 5 times
World champion Katie Taylor. The Flying Finn, Potkonen is
"unranked" but that is due more to the vagaries of the AIBA
ranking system than anything else.
The rolling two year system occasionally ends up with some
'unique' rankings and the latest one (December 2014) followed
within weeks of the 2014 World Championships in which both
boxers fought gallant fights against Taylor. When one sees the
names of some of those who are included at 60kg it certainly
suggests that the AIBA should be looking at revising their
system - and sooner rather than later.
In the men's weights there were two Gold, Two Silver and two
bronze for the Irish men- an excellent return from their six man
squad though disappointingly once more the Irish ABA failed to
send a representative to the women's tournament. One can but
surmise how the IABA believes that Irish women (Katie Taylor
apart) can prosper on the International scene when even their
own National Federation fails to provide them with the
opportunity of taking part in regular European tournaments.
Baffling to many experts, boxers and coaches included, in the
Emerald Isle.
All the results from both Women’s and Men's bouts here -
courtesy of our friends at Strefa Poland Boxing, to whom as
always - sincere thanks.