Boxing: Emmanuel Reyes Pla takes European silver at -90 kg

Emmanuel Reyes Pla has become European runner-up at -90 kg. At the Asics Arena in Sofia, Bulgaria, the boxer was beaten unanimously by Emrah Yasar in the final of the Elite European Amateur Boxing event.

Reyes Pla began his competition in the round of 16 with a 3-2 win over Ramazan Dadaev, before overcoming Bulgaria’s Roselin Bachevski in the quarter-finals. He then booked his place in the final by defeating Georgia’s Georgii Kushitashvili 3-2 in the semi-finals. Nicknamed “the Prophet”, he continues to make history, even though the top step of the continental podium still eludes him.

Experience nevertheless appeared to be on the Spaniard’s side: he is ten years older than his opponent and has had more fights behind him. But Yasar, who is also a kickboxer, was able to execute his plan, particularly thanks to the advantage the judges gave him in the first round.

Over the opening three minutes, Yasar threw repeated straight lefts. Reyes Pla was very quick with his feints and landed his best shots late in the round. Trailing, he entered the second round with greater attacking activity, but without finding the consistency needed to take a clear advantage on the scorecards. Yasar then won another narrow round; Reyes Pla closed the gap in the decisive round, forced to raise the pace. Yasar, however, defended very well while boxing on the back foot to seal his win. In the semi-finals, Yasar had already made a statement by beating Germany’s Kevin Lebowski 5-0.

The medal adds to an already substantial record since Reyes Pla acquired Spanish nationality and joined the national team. The standout moment remains the bronze he won in Paris. He also has three world bronze medals, in Belgrade in 2021, in Liverpool in 2025 in a tournament organised by World Boxing, and in Dubai in 2025 in another competition organised by World Boxing, as well as a European silver medal in Yerevan in 2022.

Reyes Pla’s silver takes Spain’s tally in Sofia to three medals, alongside Laura Fuertes’ silver at -51 kg and Ewart Marín’s bronze at -60 kg. Spain, led by Federation president Felipe Martínez and national coach Rafa Lozano, leaves Sofia with a haul described as a major result. The country also had the chance to add a new continental champion through Reyes Pla and Laura Fuertes, but its total remains at four: Luis Martínez Zapata in Dublin in 1947, Juan Francisco Rodríguez in Madrid in 1971, Gabriel Escobar in Minsk in 2019 and Martín Molina in Yerevan in 2022.