Excitement, many positive emotions, tears of joy and a return to old, unforgettable memories. All this marked the celebrations of 100 years since the creation of organized boxing in Bulgaria.
The native federation celebrated its century anniversary with an extremely stylish and sophisticated ceremony. Some of the biggest names who defended the honor of Bulgaria in the Olympic, world and European ring gathered in the “Sofia” hall. Among them were three Olympic champions – Petar Lesov, Ivaylo Marinov and Stoika Krasteva. Next to them stood dozens of prize winners, as well as eminent coaches, judges and heads of the headquarters.Each of them contributed to the glory of Bulgaria and the elevation of boxing to the third most successful Olympic sport in the country’s history with a total of 20 medals.
Among the official guests of the ceremony were the Minister of Youth and Sports Georgi Glushkov, the member of the BOK Board of Directors Plamen Krastev, the rector of the National Academy of Sciences Prof. Krasimir Petkov, the president of the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation Iliana Raeva, the president of the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation Slavi Binev, the general Secretary of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation Valentin Raichev and others. Many figures and facilitators were also invited, as well as boxing lovers, who had the opportunity to see from the front rows the emblems of this sport in Bulgaria.
“I am honored to be here now, among these giants. I am extremely excited about this event. Bulgarian boxing of a century. It sounds really grand, and it’s even grander that we’ve gathered so many legends in one place. Together with them, we also remembered those who, unfortunately, are no longer with us, but who laid the foundations on which we now continue to build. Thanks to my team without whom this event would not have been possible. I hope that in another 100 years, our successors will have twice as many reasons to celebrate,” said BF Box President Krasimir Ininski.
The ceremony was accompanied by demonstration meetings. In them, six of our young talents took to the ring to show off their skills in front of their idols. Each of the champions, medalists and figures who glorified Bulgaria received jubilee medals, as well as the special album dedicated to the greatest who stepped in the ring – “The Golden Gloves of Bulgaria”.
The medals won for men and women
Olympic Games: 20
World Cups: 42
European Championships: 147
World Cup: 16
European Games: 4
EU Championships: 43
Medalists for Bulgaria from the Olympic Games
Boris Georgiev-Mokata bronze Helsinki 1952
Alexander Nikolov bronze Tokyo 1964
Ivan Mikhailov bronze Mexico 1968
Georgi Stankov bronze Mexico 1968
Georgi Kostadinov gold Munich 1972
Angel Angelov silver Munich 1972
Vladimir Kolev bronze Montreal 1976
Peter Lesov gold Moscow 1980
Ivaylo Marinov gold Seoul 1988, bronze Moscow 1980
Alexander Christ silver Seoul 1988
Daniel Petrov gold Atlanta 1996, silver Barcelona 1992
Svilen Rusin bronze Barcelona 1992
Serafim Todorov Silver Atlanta 1996
Toncho Tonchev silver Atlanta 1996
Boris Georgiev bronze Athens 2004
Tervel Pulev bronze London 2012
Stand Cross Gold Tokyo 2020
Javier Ibanez bronze Paris 2024
Medalists for Bulgaria from World Championships
Flame Yankov bronze Havana 1974
Ilia Iliev silver Belgrade 1978
Iliyan Angelov bronze Belgrade 1978
Mikhail Takov bronze Munich 1982
Peter Stoimenov bronze Munich 1982
Emil Chuprensky Bronze Reno 1986
Borislav Abadjiev bronze Rhino 1986
Deyan Kirilov bronze Rino 1986
Kirkor Kirkorov gold Sydney 1991, silver Moscow 1989
Julian Strogov bronze Sydney 1991
Radoslav Suslekov bronze Berlin 1995
Dimitar Shtilyanov silver Belfast 2001
Alexander Vladimirov bronze Belfast 2001, Bangkok 2003
Alexey Shaidulin silver Mianyan 2005
Kubrat Pulev bronze Mianyan 2005
Detelin Dalakliev gold Milan 2009
Svetlana Kamenova bronze Qinhuangdao 2012, New Delhi 2023
Stanimira Petrova Gold Jeju 2014
Denitsa Eliseeva bronze Astana 2016
Radoslav Pantaleev bronze Ekaterinburg 2019
Sevda Asenova bronze Istanbul 2022
World Cup medalists and EP champions for Bulgaria
Rashko Lomski silver from SC Montreal 1981
Krasimir Cholakov gold from SK Belgrade 1987
Dimitar Velinov gold from EP Prague 1957
Daniel Asenov gold from EP Samokov 2015, Kharkiv 2017
Melis Ionuzova gold from the Sofia European Championship 2018
Rami Kiwan gold from EP Belgrade 2024