Fabio Roselie is the first Seychellois in action today in the International Boxing Association World Boxing Championships 2021 at the Stark Arena in Belgrade, Serbia.
Fighting in the lightweight (60kg) category, Roselie has been drawn against Jasin Ljama of Moldova in the top half of the draw.
A win for Roselie will see him move to the second round where he will, on Friday October 29, face off with Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan who won a bye straight into the next round.
The other two Seychellois boxers challenging for a piece of silverware in Belgrade are Keddy Agnes (super heavyweight, +92kg) and Shain Boniface (welterweight, 67kg). They are both expected to enter the ring on Thursday October 28 after benefiting from byes.
Welterweight Boniface will meet Cuban Kevin Hayler Bazain Brown (66-22) who did not have to break a sweat for a preliminary round win after his opponent, Jamaican Joshua Frazer (29-10), did not appear for the fight on Monday night.
As for Keddy Agnes, he will lock horns with Bulgarian heavyweight champion Rumenov Petar Belberov who also won a bye.
The three boxers are accompanied by coach Gerry Legras and the delegation’s trip is being financed by the National Sports Council, Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association and the International Boxing Association (Aiba).
The World Boxing Championships is the main event on Aiba calendar for the year 2021 and the finals are to take place on November 5 and 6.
The championships feature 13 categories for the first time in Aiba’s history after the weight classes were increased from 10 to 13 from August 2021. The minimum weight has been reduced to 48kg from 49kg.
The 13 weight categories for men are: minimum weight (46kg to 48kg), flyweight (51kg), bantamweight (54kg), featherweight (57kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (63.5kg), welterweight (67kg), light middleweight (71kg), middleweight (75kg), light heavyweight (80kg), cruiserweight (86kg), heavyweight (92kg), super heavyweight (+92kg).
The women’s classes are: minimum weight (46-48kg), light flyweight (50kg), flyweight (52kg), bantamweight (54kg), featherweight (57kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (63kg), welterweight (66kg), light middleweight (70kg), middleweight (75kg), light heavyweight (81kg), and heavyweight (+81kg).
A total prize fund of US $2.6 million will be distributed, with each gold medallist receiving US $100,000. The silver medallists will get US $50,000 and the bronze medallists US $25,000.
Aiba has also decided to introduce commemorative belts and white gloves, instead of the traditional red and blue, during the championship in Belgrade.
Source: Seychelles Nation