Youth Worlds 2022: wins for Barnes, Mohamed and Itauma on day three

A hat-trick of successes from Team England’s boxers provided a day three to remember for the squad at the IBA Youth European Championships 2022 in La Nucia, Spain.

With no boxer in action in the early afternoon session, Levi Barnes got the Three Lions’ daily action underway as he took on Munkhtulga Tsendbayar of Mongolia in the second session.

Facing an extremely tall opponent, the Jennings Gym boxer took his time to get into the bout in what was a cagey start from both, but used his trademark speed to land with left hooks and solid rights, taking the opening round unanimously.

It was a repeat performance from the boxer in the blue corner in the second round as he extended his advantage across the board, getting through with a couple of particularly well-timed uppercuts.

That left Barnes in control for the third round and he cruised to victory by keeping his opponent at arm’s length, eventually winning 30-27, 30-27, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27.

Neither England boxer in the evening session was wasting much time getting the job done and getting back to the hotel.

First, Osama Mohamed showed he means business at Under 63.5kg by clinching his second victory of the tournament – this time inside thr first half of the first round against Ireland’s Conor McCrory (Ireland).

The European silver medallist came out fast from the first bell and forced a standing count with a cracking right hand that was right on the money just 16 seconds into the contest.

There was no recovering for the Irishman as Lion ABC boxer Mohamed stepped in again with one minute 28 seconds to prompt a second count and force the referee to call off the bout.

Just an impressive was Enriko Itauma, who also made  light work out his Over 92kg opponent, Slovenia’s Djelon Januzaj.

It took the Westree man just one minute and five seconds to get the job done, with a barrage of unreturned punches meaning the referee intervened to stop further punishment.

Just two bouts involving England boxers take place tomorrow, with details as below.

Day four England bouts

Session 2

Ring B, bout 12: Under 60kg – Nelson Birchall v Ivan Greguric (Croatia).

Session 3

Ring A, bout 1: Under 57kg – Frankie Wood v Chada Phipps (USA).