Georgy Balakshin is the European champion for the third time

On July 23, 26-year-old Yakutian boxer Georgy Balakshin who stands out for Russian team conquered the European boxing championship in 51 kg for the third time.

In the final of XXXVI European Senior Boxing Championship in Plovdiv (Bolgaria) Georgy Balakshin won a 43-30 victory over Azerbaijanian Samir Mammadov. Russian domination was obvious in the tournament. The national team earned medals in all weight categories, precisely 9 gold and 2 silver.

On the way to the third champion's title, Balakshin defeated Czech Frantishek Faber (27:3), Moldavian Igor Samsoilenco (34:16), Yakutian Bato-Munko Vankeev who is a member of Belarussian team (28:9).

Previously Balakshin reserved the continental championship in Perm (Russia, 2002) and Pula (Croatia, 2004). Latter gave Balakshin a pass to Olympic games in Athens where he managed to reach a quarter-final.

Georgy Balakshin is a representative of the Sakha people. He was born in a small village of Antonovka, near the administrative center of Nyurbinsky district of Yakutia. He was engaged in boxing by his elder brother Alexei when he went to elementary school. At that time, he didn't seem to create impression on anyone. He was a small, tiny boy. However, a school trainer Arthur Pakhomov found in him all the makings of a real boxer. ‘He was well-coordinated, fast, and very diligent', says Mr. Pakhomov who is Balakshin's personal coach at preset.

It will take much time to list all the titles Georgy won in his sport career. However, let's recall major trophies. They are three gold medals of the European championship, five gold medals of Russian national championship, the bronze of Belfast 's world championship, the silver of Melbourne's Good Will Games, the World Team Cup, etc.