Spanish boxing went 24 years without a medal at the Olympic conclave and has already confirmed two in France. Ayoub Ghadfa, a 25-year-old Marbella native of Moroccan origin, advanced to the semi-finals of the +92 kg category on Friday night and will be on stage. Armenian Davit Chaloyan, number two in the world ranking in 2021, was hit in the Arena of North Paris by a series of attacks that left no doubt in the minds of the five judges. The victory was unanimously awarded to this 1.98 meter tall and 25 year old firecracker, with a degree in physical activity and sports sciences, who approached combat disciplines because at school they made life impossible for him.
The prize for him is double because the run-up to the final moves to a stage that is just as impressive as the facilities of Roland Garros. Next Wednesday night they will face the local Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze. A fierce atmosphere awaits you, with The Marseille thundering, but with the certainty that the sheet metal is guaranteed. “I’m not afraid of anyone. Just goodbye. We’re going out there, get in the ring, do our job and show what we’ve been working for the past few years. We’re going to keep going, we’re not going to stop here,” he noted as he left the ring.
His medal is in addition to the one the Cuban-born boxer also won on Thursday Emmanuel Reyesalias The profit31 years old, who also reached the semi-finals at -92 kilos after beating the Belgian Victor Schelstraete. His fight, against the Azerbaijani Loren Berto Alfonso Domínguez, is this Sunday the 4th at 13:08, although not at Roland Garros.
The imposing physique of Ayoub Ghadfa, the current European champion, emerged from the call hall, supported by his coach, the reference Rafa Lozano, the last Spanish medalist until this double, a man who is barely 1.50 tall and who led this double from the corner. mulatto mass of almost two meters high. His powerful frame contrasts with the childhood of a chubby boy of eight and nine years old who had a hard time at school due to bullying by his classmates. His father advised him to apply kickboxing to defend himself and he listened to him, although he left him aside over the years because of his studies. He wanted to leave Marbella and go to Madrid to pursue a career. And he did. He enrolled and graduated from the INEF Polytechnic University.
Rafa Lozano Jr. remains in the quarterfinals
The Rio Games raised his Olympic hopes, but boxing wasn't on his mind. Athletics and gymnastics were more on his mind. He won the ring, however, because of his past in kickboxing. It was late 2016, the beginning of his ascent. Idol of Mike Tyson, of whom he has seen every fight he could see. His success in Paris may encourage him to try to make the jump from amateur to professional boxing. His victory also comes at a weight where Spain has often had problems producing fighters.
Fast and with a varied repertoire, this young man, who lives in the Joaquín Blume residence of the CAR in Madrid, warned for his first fight last Monday against the Kazakh Kamshybek Kunkadayev, who was aiming to step into Roland Garros. On Friday night with Chaloyan, the fight had to be stopped twice due to a bleeding wound on the left side of the head. That was the only gap that he had to address. The unanimity of the five judges in declaring his victory, from the first round, proved his dominance over the Armenian.
The one who did not cross the quarterfinals border on Friday was Rafa Lozano Jr. (-51), 19 years old, defeated by the Dominican Yunior Alcántara, fourth seed. Nicknamed Balín, his father and trainer is Rafa Lozano, Balitamedalist in Atlanta 96 (bronze) and Sydney 2000 (silver), the coach of the Spanish delegation. The Olympic success of the family saga did not continue. The winner of the day was Ayoub Ghadfa.
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