Three Boxers to Semifinals in Glasgow

When 91kg Samir El Mais walked to the ring in Glasgow Wednesday afternoon to get his first bout out of the way, after waiting five days for his turn, he knew that he had to win big against Warren Bastier from England, to get his ticket to the semifinals on Friday.

“I did what I do best and came out with the win,” said El Mais hours after the bout, that he won 2-1, sitting on the bleachers cheering for his fellow teammates.

What he does best according to him is speed, footwork and ability to punch.

"I have been at the Commonwealth Games and came 5th last time and this fight I wasn't going to leave any doubt in the judges minds.” Said the 34 year old Windsor boxer El Mais.

And El Mais did it, even though for the first time in his career, he suffered a cut under his right eyebrow in the third round due to a head butt. The doctors attended the cut after the bout and have it under control.

The first round was very close, but in the second round Baister attempted to rough it up with El Mais , the Maple Leaf boxer punished him with long-range jabs .

In the third, with the blood streaming over his eye, the heavyweight boxer, instead of getting frustrated or concerned, let his boxing heart go and landed powerful shots that were clear in the eyes of the judges.

With 30 seconds remaining, El Mais landed a stabbing right that made Baister stagger.

“I have my mind set on the Gold medal. It has been a long time since Canada has been on the podium and I came to give it all for my country,” said El Mais, who didn’t feel the pain of the cut but knew it was there when he felt the blood streaming down his face.  

El Mais will have his semifinal bout on Friday against Efebotor Apochi from Nigeria.

The second boxer on Wednesday in the quarterfinals was 51kg Mandy Bujold, who also had her first bout in Glasgow. She boxed Australian Kristy Harris and got the unanimous decision, going to the semifinals against England’s Gold Olympic medalist Nicola Adams.

“I have never boxed Adams and she is the best, but I want the win and will do everything in my power to have it,” said Bujold who has been studying her opponent with her coach and said they have a strategy to get to the finals.

In a surprise for all, the third boxer in the quarterfinals, and who has been having perfect performances, 69kg Custio Clayton, lost his bout against Steven Donelly (NIR) 0-3.

Clayton was losing after the first round and attempted to be more aggressive in the second and third rounds, something that Clayton hasn’t been accustomed to, but wasn’t enough to get the win against the experienced Donnelly.

The last boxer to take the ring on Wednesday’s quarterfinals was 75kg Ariane Fortin, who had fought her opponent, Megan Kayan, from New Zealand, this past March in Poland and had a victory, but as she said she never underestimates an opponent and was prepared for a good fight.

She was faster and stronger than the New Zealand boxer who stayed strong and took Fortin’s punishment during the four rounds and tried to answer with her own punches during the contest, but that wasn’t enough.

Fortin’s next opponent will be Wales’ boxer Lauren Price on Friday in the semifinals. They boxed in May in Regina and Fortin got the victory. With a win on Friday, Fortin will go for Gold on Saturday either against England’s World Champion, Savannah Marshall or Edith Ogoke, from Nigeria.

 “The goal is gold one fight at the time.” Said Fortin.