Earlier in the day, Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Nazym Kyzaibay dominated Ukraine’s Hanna Okhota to make the women’s 48kg semi-finals, and guarantee herself a bronze medal finish at least.
The Kazakh boxer combined superior footwork and power to secure a 5-0 unanimous decision, and showed that she had plenty left in the tank for tomorrow’s final four match by jogging out of the arena.
There were high hopes for local fighter Alice Pumphrey in the other 48kg quarter-final, following her victory in last year’s U19 world championships.
England’s youngest team member looked anything but out of place in her first senior world championships, confidently taking the middle against the taller Minakshi Minakshi, who responded with some accurate blows.
Despite the Englishwoman’s best efforts to slip punches and get back into the contest, the judges awarded the Indian a unanimous 5-0 victory.
“To me, unless you get gold, it doesn’t mean anything. I pushed the pace well in the second round and got more shots on her, and she was landing 1-2s. I’m sure in time I’ll look back on making the quarter-finals with pride,” an emotional Pumphrey told Olympics.com after.
“We’ll go again with Commonwealths next year, World Champs in 2027, then the Olympics. I know I’ll get on top of that podium, but I’ve just got to keep on working.”
Pumphrey will be 22 by the time the LA 2028 Olympics begin, and this encouraging showing confirms she will be a formidable opponent if her rate of progression continues.