Hugo Grau and Junior Tadah have secured their places in the finals of the European Amateur Boxing Championships following intense semifinal bouts in Sofia, Bulgaria, according to regional sports reporting. The French delegation advanced multiple fighters to the medal rounds during Wednesday’s session, highlighting a strong showing on the international stage.
Junior Tadah Survives Semifinal Clash to Reach -85kg Final
Junior Tadah booked his ticket to the -85kg final following a fiercely contested bout against Austria’s Fares Derouiche, who entered the match as the top seed in the division. According to reports from regional media outlet Le Progrès, the two competitors engaged in an unrelenting brawl that forced the action from the opening bell. Tadah maintained relentless forward pressure, frequently clashing with an opponent who refused to give ground. Three of the five ringside judges awarded the opening round to the Austrian fighter.
In the final round, the referee temporarily halted the match to allow medical staff to treat an old cut that had reopened above the French fighter’s eye. Despite the interruption, the 20-year-old athlete immediately resumed his offensive attack, landing a series of heavy punches that knocked out Derouiche’s mouthpiece. Judges ultimately scored the bout 4-1 in favor of the French contender. National coach Kamel Hasni noted that securing the victory required executing a near-flawless performance against top-tier competition, praising the boxer’s physical conditioning and high-level execution.
Hugo Grau Advances in the -65kg Division
Hugo Grau matched his teammate’s success by advancing to the -65kg gold-medal match. Grau earned his spot in the final by defeating Finland’s Ismail Umar in their respective semifinal encounter. The French boxer demonstrated sharp tactical execution on the Sofia canvas to overcome the Finnish competitor, setting up a decisive showdown for the European title.
French Delegation Collects Multiple Medals in Sofia
The advancement of Grau and Tadah highlights a productive tournament for the French team in Bulgaria. Alongside the two finalists, Sthélyne Grosy advanced to the semifinal round in the women’s competition, creating a notable upset by defeating Amy Broadhurst while competing up a weight class at -60kg. Grosy secured a 4-1 decision through skillful boxing before preparing to face Turkish southpaw Gizem Özer. Meanwhile, Makan Traoré claimed a bronze medal for the delegation after dropping his -70kg semifinal bout.
Both Grau and Tadah will contest their respective divisional finals as the European Amateur Boxing Championships conclude their medal schedule in Sofia.
