Ayoub Ghadfa, Marbella’s Boxing Champion of Europe
Ayoub Ghadfa, a native of Marbella, has been crowned the European boxing champion. Wearing the national jersey, Ghadfa Drissi secured the gold medal in the super heavyweight category (+92 kilos) at the Elite European Boxing Championship held in Belgrade, Serbia.
Victorious Knockout in the Final Match
In the final match that concluded the competition, Ghadfa knocked out local boxer Dusan Veletic in the second round. This victory marks an improvement from his 2022 performance when he won the silver medal.
Another Success for Marbella’s Contact Sports
This achievement is another feather in the cap for Marbella’s contact sports, particularly boxing, and also brings a medal home for Spain.
25-Year-Old Ghadfa’s Journey to the Championship
The 25-year-old Marbella boxer, Ayoub Ghadfa Drissi, was declared the Elite European Champion in the super heavyweight category in Belgrade, Serbia. He knocked out local boxer Dusan Veletic in the second round, who managed to get up, but the referee stopped the fight.
Ghadfa’s Performance in the Championship
Ghadfa, being the top seed, did not have to compete in the championship’s round of 16. He won against Russian Iaroslav Doronichev in the quarterfinals and overcame Cuban-Bulgarian passport holder Yordan Hérnandez in the semifinals.
Final Match Details
In the final match, Ghadfa did not start well, falling to the canvas as soon as the fight began due to a hit to the back of his head, which the referee admonished the local boxer for. From that moment on, Ghadfa dominated Veletic with a series of long left-handed punches, clearly winning the first round.
Second Round and Victory
The second round was more of the same, with the local boxer trying to justify himself to his audience, but appearing very nervous and unable to formulate a strategy against the Spanish athlete. With 52 seconds left in the second round, a left-right combination landed cleanly on the local boxer’s head, causing him to fall to the canvas. Although he got up intending to continue, the main judge, Luca Vadilonga, decided that the fight should end.
European Elite Championship Conclusion
The Elite European Championship concluded with Ghadfa’s gold and Rafael Lozano’s bronze in the -51 kg category. Ghadfa will attend the Pre-Olympic event in Bengkok at the end of May, seeking a spot in the Paris Olympic Games in his last opportunity.
