Third Bulgarian Boxer Reaches Quarterfinals at Paris Olympics

Bulgarian national Javier Ibanez has advanced to the quarterfinals in the 57-kilogram category of the Olympic boxing tournament in Paris.

Ibanez, who is seeded second and is a champion from the European games, secured a unanimous 5:0 victory in his debut match against Ukrainian Ayder Abduraimov, with all judges scoring the bout 30:27. The naturalized Cuban displayed superior skill, giving little opportunity to his 20-year-old opponent, a two-time European junior champion from Budva 2021 and Sofia 2022.

Ibanez now needs one more win to ensure at least a bronze medal. His next match is scheduled for August 3 at 21:16 Bulgarian time against Japan's Shudai Harada, the number 7 seed and vice-champion from the Asian Games in Huangzhou 2023. Harada also achieved a unanimous decision victory in his round of 16 match against the experienced 31-year-old Ilmar Gonzalez Landazuri of Colombia.