World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025: Hitesh becomes first Indian to reach finals

Hitesh will next face England’s Odel Kamara in the summit clash of World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025.

National champion Hitesh displayed exceptional tactical awareness to pack off France’s Makan Traore 5:0 in the 70kg bout to become the first Indian boxer to reach the finals in the World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025 at Foz Do Iguacu on Thursday.

The Indian pugilist adopted a cautious approach at the start against Olympian Traore but was always on the lookout to counter attack. The strategy allowed Hitesh to control the pace of the bout and though he received a penalty in the third and final round, the end result was never in doubt. He will now face Odel Kamara of England in the summit clash.

Among the other Indians in fray, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam took the fight to former Asian Under-22 champion Asilbek Jalilov of Uzbekistan but ended on the wrong side of a 2:3 split verdict in the 50kg semifinals.

Vishal went down 0:5 against Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan in the 90kg semifinal while Sachin lost to Poland’s Pawel Brach in 60kg bout.

Earlier, Indian boxers Manish Rathore, Hitesh, and Abhinash Jamwal showcased their title ambitions with commanding victories in the quarterfinals in their respective weight categories of the ongoing World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025 on Wednesday.

Jamwal defeated Germany’s Dennis Brill by unanimous decision in the 65kg category while Hitesh defeated Italy’s Gabriele Guidi Rontani by an identical scoreline in the 70kg category.

In the 55kg category, Manish Rathore was up against Australia’s Paris Olympian Yusuf Chothia and the Indian national champion proved that he was well prepared for whatever his opponent threw at him.

Both boxers gave a tough fight in all three rounds, in which Rathore emerged victorious. All three judges ruled in his favour while two gave equal points to both.

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