Kirill Afanasev beaten to bronze at EU Championships
Dublin heavyweight Kirill Afanasev bowed out of the EU Championships in Spain this aftenoon following a brave performance in Spain.
The Smitfield fighter was in action in the quarter-finals in Spain, looking to guarantee a bronze medal but was beaten by Croat Tony Filipi on a unanimous decision following a heavy-hitting contest.
The fight was a repeat of the 2017 Tammer final, won on a 4-1 split by Filipi, and the Balkan would emerge victorious again here.
Afanasev, who scored a good win over Slovak David Michalek in the Last 16, began well behing the jab but his European Under-22 silver medallist opponent began to time him well in the second.
A count in this stanza meant it would be an uphill battle for the Dubliner and while he dug deep in the thirds, it was Filipi who would progress.
The final scores read 29-28, 30-27×2, and 30-25×2.
Ireland’s two remaining quarter-finalists, Michael Nevin and Kurt Walker, are in action tomorrow against English and Polish opposition respectively, while Kieran Molloy boxes Englan’s Pat McCormack for silver on Saturday.
EU Elite Championships Valladolid, Spain
November 9th
Prelims (last 16)
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Rosenov Banbakov (Bulgaria) 1-4
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Stefan Ivanov (Bulgaria) 5-0
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Frazer Clarke (England) 1-4
November 10th
Prelims (last 16)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Ruben Veciunoa (Belgium) 5-0
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Ireland) beat David Michalek (Slovakia) 4-1
November 11th
Prelims (last 16)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Petr Novak (Czech Republic) 5-0
November 12th
Prelims (last 16)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Stephan Nikitin (Germany) 5-0
November 13th
Q/Finals
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Dmitry Galogot (Moldova) 0-5
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Vincenzo Arecchiai (Italy) 3-1-1
November 14th
Q/Finals
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Toni Filipi (Croatia) 0-5
November 15th
Q/Finals
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Jaroslav Iwanow (Poland)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Carl Fail (England)
November 17th
S/Finals
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) v Pat McCormack (England)
Irish squad
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard BC)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal BC)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise BC)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard BC) (Bronze, at least)
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise BC)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel BC)
Team Manager: Stephen Molloy
Coaches: John Conlan & Eoin Pluck
Physiotherapist: Seamus Caffrey
Team Doctor: Jim Clover- Team Doctor
Sports Physiologist: Damian Martin
Referee & Judge: Jim Murrin
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
