Pihla Kaivo-oja and Vilma Viitanen have been successful in the European Boxing Championships for young people, but now they face a much bigger challenge: the first World Championships for adults. Mira Potkonen is an important role model for them.
The success of Finnish women’s boxing has been strong in recent years Mira Potkonen on the shoulders, but today a Tampere resident who retires from competitive boxing is mainly in the role of a mentor.
Two young, promising contestants will leave Finland for the Women’s World Cup starting next week, Pihla Kaivo-ditch and Vilma Viitanenfor both of whom Mira Potkonen has been an important role model and whose footprints they want to follow.
The season for Kaivo-ditch, 19, competing in the 50-pound series, has been successful, as he brightened his bronze silver last year at the European Championships for under-22s in March and also has wins from both the Tammer tournament and the GeeBee tournament this year.
Viitanen, 20, who competed in the 57-pound series, also returned from the same European Championships with a medal around his neck when he won bronze in the sequel to last year’s silver. In addition, Viitanen won the Tammer tournament and was second in the GeeBee tournament.
However, the competitions in Istanbul are the first adult World Championships for both.
– It’s a different take on the youth series. Juniors are at the same physical level, while women in the series can come against parents over ten years old. Then there may be physical differences, Viitanen ponders.
The duo got a taste of the adult series at the finishing camp as they prepared for the championships at the international training camp in Assisi, Italy Maarit Teuronen in coaching.
Fighters from South Korea, the United States, Italy, the Netherlands and Brazil faced the camp.
– We got some really good sparring. It was good that there were also contestants from outside Europe, because there the style is different. The camp saw what the level is in the rest of the world. There was a confident feeling. With a good attitude to the competition, there is nothing to worry about, Kaivo-ditch says and Viitanen agrees.
– I just have to rely on my own doing that everything is fine and in good condition. I have developed in various areas over the last couple of years, and I have not had any worries about the skills. The camp gave good credit.
Boxing would suck right away
At the younger age of eight, Pihla Kaivo-oja practiced team gymnastics, but the motivation stopped due to injuries. At the call of his father, Kaivo-oja decided to try boxing and immediately got in the way.
Vilma Viitanen comes from an actor family, but her dad and father had experience in boxing, and a boxing event at the theater inspired him and his big brother in the sport. Other sports were gradually allowed to stay away as the boxing hall attracted.
– What is fascinating about boxing is that it is all self-contained. You can’t feed a friend in a difficult situation, you have to figure it out yourself. A difficult sport takes with it when it wants to develop, Viitanen explained.
There are also Kaivo ditches along the same lines, which over the years have found that the individual species is better suited to him. However, his gymnastics background has been of great use to him in boxing, as his body control, agility and leg work are easily distinguished from others.
– I exercise a lot with my legs, I try to be sharp and get my middle circle with my legs. I have quite long hands, so I try to take advantage of my length, Kaivo-ditch said and admitted from time to time that he also benefits from his left-handedness.
From the age of 7, Viitanen’s technology has been honed to the highest level over the years. Despite his young age, he also has experience that is especially evident against a variety of opponents: he is able to adapt to their style of fighting.
– The boxing situations in the ring are familiar to me. I will never go to the ring to not know what I am doing, Viitanen assured.
Tampere’s boxing culture is visible
Tampere is a kind of mecca for women’s boxing, which has attracted one of the most promising contestants to the community and to the Nääshall. Even Viitan moved from Mikkeli to Tampere as a high school student and has noticed the great boxing culture that Tampere and the Tampere Power Club (TVS) glow with.
– TVS has done such a good job that there is mass and skill, many skilled coaches. You can see a lot of little guys in the hall who want to become boxers, Viitanen glowed.
There are always sparring buddies in the hall and I have been a training buddy once again, Mira Potkonen, an idol from Viitanen and Kaivo-oja. According to the duo, Potkonen’s teachings have helped him a lot in his career.
– I have learned from him that you have to be persistent and believe in yourself. There has to be a positive attitude and that positive attitude has always been spread by everyone in the gym, Kaivo-ditch said.
Viitanen also managed to tour the races together with Potkonen, and on these trips he learned a lot just by chatting and following his example. Potkonen has reminded Viitanen, among other things, that adversity strengthens and benefits from all experiences.
Both Viitanen and Kaivo-oja are eagerly awaiting next week’s World Championships and being able to measure the amount of their work. The draw is ahead on Sunday, so only then will the Finns know their future opponents.
– I’m going to do the best I can and then the result will be in line with it. I give my all in every match, it may be enough, Viitanen outlined and reminded that you can’t expect too much from the young contestants yet.
– There’s still an Olympics left. After that, we will know what needs to be fixed and developed before the start of the Paris Olympic qualifiers.
Before the start of the Games, it is very likely that the Finnish duo will get a message from a familiar person: Mira Potkonen, who has always hit them at the Games and who has always said that she will help them.
– He is still a really important person for me in boxing. If someone ever presses someone’s mind, you can always call Mira, both Viitanen and Kaivo-ditch said.
The Women’s World Boxing Championships will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from 9 to 20 October. May. A record 93 national teams will take part in the competition.