Szilvassy of Hungary wins second World title as first U23 World champs are crowned

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland – The first U23 World champions were crowned on Tuesday night in Bydgoszcz, Poland, at the inaugural U23 World Championships.

A big four-pointer early in the first period was all Erik Szilvassy of Hungary needed to secure his second World championship in two years. The 2016 University World champ defeated 2017 World Team member Ivan Huklek of Croatia for 85 kg/187 lbs. gold.

2016 Senior World silver medalist Daniel Cataraga of Moldova eased his way to gold, thanks to a takedown and a pair of stepouts against this year’s U23 European silver medalist Robert Fritsch of Hungary in the 71 kg finals.

Turkey’s Fatih Cengiz won the crown at 75 kg/165 lbs., grabbing a 5-2 win over Gela Bolkvadze of Georgia. The turning point was when Cengiz was awarded a caution-and-two early in the second period.

Earlier in the day, Cengiz picked up big wins over 2016 Senior World champion Esen Asanov of Kyrgyzstan, two-time Junior World medalist Akhmed Kaytsukov of Russia and 2017 Junior World bronze and 2016 Cadet World silver Nasir Hasanov from Azerbaijan. He also knocked American Jesse Porter from the championship bracket.

Two more of Cengiz’s teammates won bronze medals at 71 kg and 98 kg, putting Turkey ahead of the rest with three medals.

At 98 kg/216 lbs., 2017 Russian Championships silver medalist Aleksandr Golovin of Russia bested 2017 Military World bronze medalist Matti Kuosmanen of Finland in a 5-3 battle.

Tomorrow, the last four U.S. Greco wrestlers will take the mat, including four-time age-group World Teamer Dalton Roberts, three-time Senior National Team member Alejandro Sancho, 2017 Junior World champion Kamal Bey and 2016 Junior World bronze medalist G’Angelo Hancock.

The preliminary rounds begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), with the medal matches beginning at 6 p.m. (12 p.m. ET) each day. Bydgoszcz is six hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern time zone.

Fans can find live streams and brackets on Trackwrestling.com.

2017 U23 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Bydgoszcz, Poland (Six hours ahead of ET)

U.S. Greco-Roman results
71 kg
Gold - Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) dec. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 5-0
Bronze - Murat DAG (TUR) dec. Rinat AKHMEDOV (RUS), 2-1
Bronze – Farshad Mirahmad BELFAKEH (IRI) dec. Riccardo Vito ABBRESCIA (ITA), 2-1

75 kg
Gold - Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) dec. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), 5-2
Bronze - Esen Asanov (KGZ) dec. Nasir HASANOV (AZE), 1-0
Bronze - Payam Abdeh Saleh BOVEYRI PAYANI (IRI) dec. Miras BARSHYLYKOV (KAZ), 6-2

85 kg
Gold - Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) dec. Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), 4-0
Bronze - Islam ABBASOV (AZE) dec. Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO), 2-1
Bronze - Toni Heikki Herman METSOMAEKI (FIN) won by injury default Ruslan MAHOMEDOV (UKR)

98 kg
Gold - Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS) dec. Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN), 5-3
Bronze - Abudourexiti ALIMUJIANG (CHN) dec. Bopembe Arsen SYCHEV (BLR), 3-0
Bronze - Fatih BASKOY (TUR) dec. Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE), 4-2