The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has named Italy’s Irma Testa as the Boxer of the Month for May

Testa won the Youth Featherweight class (57 kg) gold medal in the AIBA Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015, and received the best boxer of the tournament award from AIBA President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu.

Testa’s Junior life

Born on December 28th 1997, Testa began boxing in 2010 following in the footsteps of her older sister, before a successful 2012 saw her claim victory in the Italian Women’s Junior National Championships, and win a bronze medal at the 2012 EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Championships.

After securing a silver medal in the 2013 European Union Women’s Junior Championships, Testa won gold at the 2013 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships, as she beat excellent opposition en route to a well deserved final victory over France’s Santiana Meurant.

Youth career success

Testa joined the Youth age group in January 2014, and secured several great victories in the qualification event of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, where she claimed a spectacular silver medal.

Her first Youth European title triumph in Assisi was followed by another silver medal in the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, where only China’s Chang Yuan was able to defeat her in a narrow bout.

Later, she won the Queen’s Women’s Youth Cup in Stralsund, Germany after beating strong European opponents.

Glory in Taipei

Since Nanjing 2014, Testa has moved up two weight categories, and fought at the Featherweight class (57 kg) in Taipei.

Despite a difficult run to the final, the Italian managed to outperform a tough field in her weight class, and she defeated Chinese Taipei’s Liu Chia Chun, US Youth National Champion Melanie Gonzalez, Russia’s Anastasia Nesmiyanova, and Greece’s Nikoleta Pita, before meeting Ukraine’s Anhelina Bondarenko in the final.

It was a gold medal match that Testa will remember forever, as she used her height advantage to considerable effect, which enabled her to eventually outpoint her Ukrainian opponent.

Testa’s quote

“My style is very technical, and I like to keep at a distance in my bouts. I train three-times every day, but I do not have any special methods, I just do my job. In Taipei, I was very fit and hungry for the gold medal, and my most difficult bout was the quarter-final against Russia’s Anastasia Nesmiyanova, who is not only strong, but has great tactical skills. I respect all of my opponents in the ring, and I hope that my best boxer trophy in Taipei will set a good example to all of the Italian women’s boxers.”

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