Results from the German Boxing Federation (DBV) in Loznica: a European championship title for Justin Kiz and a bronze medal for Dietrich Hermann.
Justin Kiz, a young boxer from the German Boxing Federation (DBV), is the new U19 European champion. The athlete from Boxring 46 Knielingen e.V., part of the Baden-Württemberg Boxing Association, prevailed on Friday evening in the weight class up to 75 kg at the U19 European Championships in Loznica, Serbia. In the final, Kiz defeated Kirill Shinkar of Russia by a 4–1 judges’ decision, securing a major victory for German youth boxing.
Kiz thus capped off an outstanding European Championship. According to the federation, he was able to improve with each bout. The tournament victory in Loznica marks the highlight of the U19 boxer’s career so far. For the DBV, it is also the first gold medal at a U19 European Championship in four years (Asya Ari; up to 57 kg).
“The feeling is indescribable”
“Just as I said at the beginning: I’m bringing the gold medal home—and I did it. The feeling is indescribable. I’m just happy,” Kiz said immediately after his victory in the final. “A big thank you goes out to the entire coaching staff, our doctor, and the physical therapists; to the German national team; and especially to coaches Gregory Tolkovets and Vladimir Pletnev, who prepared me in Heidelberg.”
In addition to Justin Kiz’s European championship title, the DBV is bringing another medal home to Germany from Loznica. In the 80-kg weight class, Dietrich Hermann won the bronze medal. In total, five German boxers—Kiz, Hermann, Yanis Heger, Yoan Hernandez, and Ahmed Abdulgamidov—had fought their way into the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Text: Frank Schwantes / with material from the DBV