Brave hook: will Russia be able to win the medal standings of the World Boxing Championships

The European Boxing Championship under the auspices of World Boxing will be held in Sofia from September 17 to 25. Medals will be awarded in 10 men's and 10 women's weight categories. Russia has announced a full squad — one boxer in each weight class. The tournament is not a direct Olympic selection. The winners of the European Championship do not receive tickets to the 2028 Games, but World Boxing rating points are awarded for their performance. The main qualification cycle for the Los Angeles Olympics will begin in 2027, so the Bulgarian capital will be an important check of the squad before the start of the selection process.

The goal is four gold

The international status of Russian boxers has also fundamentally changed. In the spring, World Boxing allowed them only in a neutral capacity, but on July 30, the organization lifted these restrictions. In Bulgaria, our national team will perform with the national flag and anthem.

The men's team looks especially strong by name. In the weight category up to 50 kg, Bair Batlaev will compete, up to 55 kg — Vyacheslav Rogozin, up to 60 kg — Vsevolod Shumkov, up to 65 kg — Rasul Magomedov, up to 70 kg — Sergey Koldenkov, up to 75 kg — Ismail Mutsolgov, up to 80 kg — Cherav Ashalaev, up to 85 kg — Dmitry Karmanov, up to 90 kg — Ramadan Dadaev, over 90 kg — David Surov.

"We had doubts about one weight — 90 kg," Viktor Farkhutdinov, the head coach of the Russian men's national team, told the press service of the Russian Boxing Federation. — We sparred, and Ramazan Dadaev defeated Timur Gamzatov due to the latter's injury. Our squad is good, and we will try to win as many gold medals and the first team place as possible. The medal plan includes four gold awards. There will be a lot of strong opponents at the European Championship. The Irish team is very good, the English team, Bulgaria has a strong national team. Spain and Italy will also compete. We won't have any easy fights. Many thanks to the boxers who came after the Russian Championship to help prepare the national team. There wasn't much time — it wasn't until July 30th that we found out that we were allowed in with a flag and an anthem.

Several team members have recently achieved major results at the IBA World Championships — Shumkov, Mutsolgov and Surov won gold, Batlaev, Rogozin and Koldenkov reached the finals. At the same time, these achievements cannot be directly transferred to the European Championship: this tournament will be held in a different international system and with a different pool of competitors.

"The first stage of training took place in Kislovodsk, it was a preparatory training camp," said Sergey Koldenkov, vice—world champion, Izvestia. — Then we held a combat training camp, where we worked more in pairs, on shells and sparring. Everyone is 100 percent ready now. Perhaps someone has forgotten about the Russians, who we are. Therefore, we will enter the ring and show the character, spirit and strength of our flag. Everyone is focused only on the first place. We were even given a uniform with gold elements, so we need to justify it.

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Show a master class

The women's national team is also represented in all categories. Russia will be represented by Yulia Chumgalakova (up to 48 kg), Ruket Kushtova (up to 51 kg), Anastasia Kohl (up to 54 kg), Lyudmila Vorontsova (up to 57 kg), Alina Pushkar (up to 60 kg), Azalia Amineva (up to 65 kg), Nadezhda Golubeva (up to 70 kg), Saltanat Medenova (up to 75 kg), Anastasia Demurchyan (up to 80 kg) and Ksenia Olifirenko (over 80 kg).

The most decorated in this group are Medenova, Demurchyan and Chumgalakova. Medenova is the current IBA world champion, Demurchyan won the World Championship in 2023, Chumgalakova became the European champion twice and reached the World Championship finals in 2025.

"Our training is very powerful,— Anastasia Demurchyan told Izvestia. — I think I'm ready for the championship one hundred percent. I feel comfortable competing in the 80 kg category. I was up to 81 kg, then at the Spartakiad I participated in the 75 kg category. Now the weight allows you to perform at 80 kg — and there is a reserve, and I feel good. I already have a world title, but I don't have a European title yet. She won the European Championship only once. That's why I plan to go and win. Actually, all the girls are doing great, we're all getting ready. We want to take all the first places. Half of the national team from Krasnodar Region is our gang. We will show a master class in Bulgaria.

The competition will be high. The winners of the Olympic Games and World Boxing Championships will attend the tournament. Ireland, England, France, Poland and Bulgaria announced strong line-ups. Among the participants are Kelly Harrington, Yulia Sheremeta, Rami Kivan and other boxers who have already successfully competed at major international competitions.

Therefore, the main Russian medal expectations are primarily related to those who have previously been far away at the World Championships. For men, these are Shumkov, Mutsolgov, Surov, Batlaev, Rogozin and Koldenkov, for women — Medenova, Demurchyan and Chumgalakova.

The European Championship will show how ready the Russian leaders are to confirm their level already inside the new Olympic system of World Boxing and before the full start of the selection for the 2028 Games.