Three Wins in Four Bouts: Armenia Starts European Boxing Championships

The 2026 European Boxing Championships got underway in Sofia on September 17. Four members of the Armenian national team entered the ring on the opening day of competition, with three of them securing victories and continuing their fight for medals.

Elida Kocharyan, Zhirayr Sargsyan and Narek Manasyan all made successful starts to the tournament. Armenia’s only defeat on the opening day came through Harutyun Hakobkokhyan.

Elida Kocharyan comfortably advances from the first round

In the 65 kg weight category, Elida Kocharyan faced Spain’s Mariana Soto Torres in the Round of 32.

The Armenian boxer was in complete control of the bout and earned a unanimous 5-0 victory.

The judges scored the contest 30-26, 30-27, 30-25, 30-27, 30-26.

Kocharyan will return to the ring on September 19, when she faces Albania’s Esmeralda Esmeralda.

Zhirayr Sargsyan wins a closely contested bout

Zhirayr Sargsyan’s opening contest in the 55 kg division proved to be much tighter.

In the Round of 32, the Armenian boxer faced Belgium’s Nadir Boulaiz. The outcome remained uncertain almost until the final seconds, with the judges split in their decision.

Sargsyan prevailed 3-2, with scores of 28-27, 27-28, 28-27, 29-26, 27-28.

In the next round on September 19, the Armenian representative will face Amin Mammadzade of Azerbaijan.

Narek Manasyan wins 5-0

One of Armenia’s leading boxers, Narek Manasyan, also made a confident start to the European Championships in the 90 kg category.

His opponent in the Round of 32 was Hungary’s Levente Kiss. Manasyan won all three rounds on all five judges’ scorecards to secure a convincing 5-0 victory.

All five judges scored the bout identically at 30-27.

Manasyan’s next bout will take place on September 20 against Turkey’s Emrah Yasar.

Harutyun Hakobkokhyan eliminated

Armenia’s final boxer in action on the opening day was Harutyun Hakobkokhyan, competing in the 70 kg category.

In the Round of 32, the Armenian faced Slovakia’s Adolf Stanek and lost by unanimous decision, 0-5.

The judges’ scorecards read 28-29, 28-29, 28-30, 27-30, 27-30.

Armenia therefore finished the opening day of the European Championships with three victories from four bouts.

Armenian boxers’ schedule for September 18

Five more representatives of Armenia will enter the ring on the second day of the European Championships:

• 60 kg: Artur Bazeyan vs Giorgios Pleas (Greece), Round of 32;
• 65 kg: Artur Sahakyan vs Giacomo Giannotti (Italy), Round of 32;
• 75 kg: Marat Mikaelyan vs Diogo Semedo (Portugal), Round of 32;
• 80 kg: Artush Hovhannisyan vs Sultan Osmanli (Turkey), Round of 64;
• 85 kg: Rafael Hovhannisyan vs Valeriy Walter (Germany), Round of 16.

Thus, another five Armenian boxers will begin their campaigns at the European Championships in Sofia on September 18.