The 27th Algirdas Socikas Tournament was dominated by Team Ukraine who took 6 gold medals and the trophy for Best Boxer (Oleksandr Khyzhniak, 80 kg). The other gold medalists were Aider Abduraimov (57 kg), Danut Zamorylo (63.5 kg), Viktor Petrov (67 kg), Yurii Zakharieiev (71 kg) and Karstan Arkadii (92 kg). Altogether, 9 countries won gold medals: Belgium, England, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Scotland, Ukraine, and Wales. Some weight divisions were divided into two groups.

Znamiec Cesary, a 19 year-old Polish, impressed the crowd in 71kg final. After defeating the European champion Harris Akbar (England) in the semi-final, he met reigning IBA World Champion Yurii Zakharieiev in the final. Znamiec controlled gave a great account of himself but the Ukrainian boxer used his experience in the next rounds to take a 4-1 decision.

Two current European champions also had success in Kaunas. Vasile Usturoi (Belgium) moved up to 60kg and continued his winning streak as he took gold after defeating Jaroslaw Iwanow (Poland). Germany’s Nelvie Tiafack faced Jonas Jazevicius, the local hero, but dominated the bout.

The crowd of about 1000 spectators appreciated the 92kg final between Karstan Arkadii (Ukraine) and Patrick Brown (England). The boxer from Manchester was impressive in his first two matches of the competition but he couldn’t impose his style against Karstan, one of the strongest boxers of the tournament, and had to settle for the silver medal.

This event is regarded as Lithuania’s most important elite international boxing tournament, and was named after their national boxing legend, Algirdas Socikas. He is considered as one of Lithuania’s boxing heroes, being a former Olympian and two-time European Boxing Champion.