Tunisian boxer eliminated in the semis Molka Khalifi settles for Bronze
Russia’s lightweight Kira Leonova outpointed Tunisia’s Molka Khalifi (pictured) in the semi-finals of the Junior World Boxing Championships today (December 1) in Yerevan, Armenia.
The Tunisian boxer put up a commendable performance. In my opinion, the well contested fight could have gone either way. It’s therefore baffling how the judges scored it a unanimous points win for Leonova. A split decision would have been a fair judgement.
Both fighters furiously exchanged fists at close quarters in all rounds but the bout was marred by constant holding, forcing the referee to intervene time and again to order them to break. The Russian was warned in the third round for using a rabbit punch.
With that defeat, the 16-year-old Molka has settled for bronze making sure Africa didn’t come out empty-handed in the global junior event. Africa was represented by 12 boxers from Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Rwanda and Mauritius.
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