Canadian boxer Terris Smith defeated Bulgaria’s Aslahan Mehmedova 3-0 on points in their Round of 16 bout Monday to advance at a last-ditch Olympic qualifying tournament in Bangkok.
The 31-year-old from Victoria moves on in the women’s 60-kilogram division at the Haumark Stadium in Bangkok. Also Monday, Montreal’s Keven Beausejour, 24, lost 3-2 to Japan’s Go Wakaya in Round of 16 action in the men’s 80 kg class.
On Sunday, Junior Petanqui defeated Shain Boniface from the Seychelles in a Round of 32 bout in the men’s 71 kg division. The 25-year-old from Montreal earned a 5-0 decision in his round-of-32 bout.
Canada coach Samir [Sammy] El Mais called it “a great performance for his first bout.”
“His jab couldn’t miss all fight,” he said in a statement. “He used his range, his experience and out classed his opponent winning unanimously.”
On Tuesday, Petanqui faces Armenia’s Gurgen Madoyan and Scarlett Delgado, a 28-year-old from Brampton, Ont., meets Kenya’s Amina Faki in Round of 16 action in the women’s 54 kg class.
Canadian Victor Tremblay lost via walkover Friday after failing to make weight for his first fight in the 57 kg bracket.
“Victor has demonstrated incredible dedication and commitment to representing our nation on the international stage,” El Mais said. “However, ensuring the safety and well-being of our athletes always takes precedence. It was a tough decision, but ultimately, it was the right one.”
9 Canadians entered Bangkok tourney
The 19-year-old from Montreal is remaining with the team.
“While I am disappointed that I won’t be able to compete, I understand the importance of maintaining my health and safety,” Tremblay said in a statement. “I will continue to train hard and support my teammates in any way I can.”
Nine Canadians entered the Bangkok tournament trying to fight their way into this summer’s Olympic field.
Canada has already qualified two boxers for Paris, which features 13 weight classes, seven for men and six for women.
The number of Olympic boxing divisions for men is down by one while the women’s competition has added one since Tokyo. But there will parity in total numbers of athletes with 124 men and 124 women.
Middleweight Tammara Thibeault (75 kg) and welterweight Wyatt Sanford (63.5 kg) secured their Olympic berths via gold-medal performances at last year’s Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Both were members of Canada’s five-boxer team for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Bangkok qualifier, which runs through June 3, will determine the final 51 quota places (23 for women and 28 for men) for the Paris Games.
Olympic boxing qualification comes in the form of several steps.
The first were five continental qualifiers, with the Pan Am Games covering the Americas. A first World Qualification Tournament was then held in Busto Arzizio, Italy, from Feb. 29 to March 12.
Over 75 competing countries at 2021 Olympics
Competitors essentially had to finish in the top four in Italy to secure Olympic qualification, although that figure varied in some weight classes. Canada had two athletes finish in the top eight — Delgado and super-heavyweight Alexis Barriere, who subsequently opted to focus on a pro career.
Just making the Olympic field is an accomplishment, given the sport’s popularity around the world and the fact each country can have no more than one competitor in a weight class. More than 75 countries took part in boxing at the Tokyo Games.
Competitors will again need to crack the top four in Bangkok to punch their ticket to Paris. That measuring stick can change, however, given host France is guaranteed a maximum of six quota places (three for women and three for men) so can claim a spot in a weight class even if it doesn’t qualify a fighter.
That means some weight classes may require a top-three finish for Olympic qualification. It could also become top five if an already qualified competitor is injured or suspended.
There will be no title bouts at the Bangkok event, with action in each weight class coming to a halt when the final Olympic berths are determined.
Canada has won 17 Olympic boxing medals (three gold, seven silver and seven bronze), but none since 1996 when heavyweight David Defiagbon won silver in Atlanta.
The Paris boxing competition runs July 27 to Aug. 1 in the North Paris Arena and Roland-Garros Stadium.
The Olympic qualifying events were organized under the authority of the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU), an ad-hoc group created by the International Olympic Committee’s executive board.
The PBU was tasked with overseeing qualifying and running the boxing competition at the games following the IOC’s suspension and the subsequent withdrawal of recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Canadian roster
Women
- Mckenzie Wright (50 kg) — Oakville, Ont.
- Scarlett Delgado (54) — Brampton, Ont.
- Marie Al-Ahmadieh (57) — Montreal
- Terris Smith (60) — Victoria
- Sara Kali (66) — Montreal
Men
- Victor Tremblay (57 kg) — Montreal
- Junior Petanqui (71) — Montreal
- Keven Beausejour (80) — Montreal
- Doni Foreman (92-plus) — Brampton, Ont.
Source Agencies
