The Cologne World Boxing Cup was recently held from 27-31 October in Cologne, Germany.
An Australian team of 13 boxers competed, including six female Pacific Games team boxers who will be fighting for their place at the Paris 2024 Olympics in just under a month.
A development squad of three female and four male boxers were selected to attend this event, based on their performances at the 2023 Elite Nationals in August in the eyes of the National Coaches.
The success of the Australian women at this event was most notable with Cailtin Parker and Monique Suraci claiming silver, while Tyla McDonald and Lekeisha Pergoliti took home bronze with quality performances.
Fighting two weight divisions up, Monique Suraci defeated France’s U22 European champion Ramone Moulai in the semifinal. Labelled “the surprise of the day” at the time, it was no surprise to the Australians when Monique’s arm was raised in victory, setting up a finals appearance against England’s Charley Davison.
Monique fought well, eventually losing to the Tokyo 2020 Olympian who was awarded the gold medal and Best Female Technical Boxer at the event.
Australia had two men competing in the 92kg division, Ikenna Enyi and Eddie Coumi. Both lost their semifinals against quality opponents, but each secured a bronze medal in the process.
Prior to the Cologne World Boxing Cup, the Pacific Games team attended a multi-nations training camp in Assisi, Italy. Duel-matches were facilitated on 15 and 17 October, to supplement the lack of international competition opportunities available in recent months.
Majority of the team won their bouts against national champions from Italy, Spain, Belgium and Romania.
The Pacific Games team then travelled to Heidelberg, Germany for another multi-nations camp, where they rendezvoused with the development squad. The seven male Pacific Games boxers departed for Australia at the end of this camp, not competing at the Cologne World Boxing Cup due to the risk of head cuts inside the 30-day period before Pacific Games.
The Pacific Games are of great significance being a direct Olympic Qualification event for Australia.
13 Aussies will be fighting for their ticket to Paris 2024, in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 27 November – 2 December.
