Zhakpekov, Kurmetov and Toltayev claimed gold medals at the 24th Nurmagambetov Tournament
The 24th edition of the Sagadat Nurmagambetov Memorial Tournament was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan where 144 boxers attended in the competition. The Nurmagambetov Memorial Tournament returned to the boxing map after two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Kazakhstan’s 19-year-old Yerassyl Zhakpekov, Adilet Kurmetov and Sanatali Toltayev were among the winners.
This strong men’s youth international competition was named by the General of the Army, Mr. Sagadat Nurmagambetov to perpetuate his memory. The city of Almaty was the venue of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in October 2013 where Kazakhstan claimed four gold medals.
Elite male boxers who were born between 1981 and 2002 were eligible to attend in the 24th Nurmagambetov Tournament. The men’s event was held in ten different weight categories: light flyweight (49kg), flyweight (52kg), featherweight (57kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (63kg), welterweight (69kg), middleweight (75kg), light heavyweight (81kg), heavyweight (91kg) and super heavyweight (+91kg).
The first gold medal of the Nurmagambetov Memorial Tournament was achieved by Shymkent’s Ryskhan Talip at the light flyweight (49kg) following his success over Ernur Kayrat of Almaty. Fifteen boxers attended at the flyweight (52kg) and among them the most experienced Kazakh, Olzhas Bayniyazov won the title after beating Karim Serkebayev and Samat Zhetibayev in Almaty.
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Samandar Kholmurodov defeated a local youngster Talgat Syrymbetov in the semi-final of the featherweight (57kg) but he was not able to box in the final against Rustam Shaumenov. Kazakhstan’s former AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Adilet Kurmetov worked well against ASBC Asian Youth Champion Samatali Toltayev and earned the gold medal of the lightweight (60kg).
Samatali’s twin brother Sanatali Toltayev of Mangystau region worked better in the next weight category and claimed the gold medal in Almaty. Dzhambul region’s Alisher Abdulalim was not the main favourite of the welterweight (69kg) but he defeated more experienced boxers such as Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Yuldashev, Dulat Bekbauov and Miras Yertanov in the event.
Uzbekistan’s Tokyo Olympian Fanat Kakhramonov attended at the middleweight (75kg) in Almaty but he was defeated by Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Kuandyk Maksut in the quarter-finals. The gold medal of the category was taken by Pavlodar region’s 2016 ASBC Asian Youth Champion Ayatulla Takizhanov. Former ASBC Asian Junior Champion 19-year-old Yerassyl Zhakpekov defeated Zhanibek Kartbayev and won the gold medal of the light heavyweight (81kg).
Mangystau region’s next success was achieved by Nurlan Sabirov who had a fantastic final battle against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Togaymurodov at the heavyweight (91kg). A former WSB boxer, Yerkin Mukhamedzhan moved up to the super heavyweight (+91kg) and defeated 23-year-old Ayboldy Daurenuly in the final.
List of the winners in the Nurmagambetov Memorial Tournament
49kg: Ryskhan Talip, Kazakhstan 52kg: Olzhas Bayniyazov, Kazakhstan 57kg: Rustam Shaumenov, Kazakhstan 60kg: Adilet Kurmetov, Kazakhstan 63kg: Sanatali Toltayev, Kazakhstan 69kg: Alisher Abdulalim, Kazakhstan 75kg: Ayatulla Takizhanov, Kazakhstan 81kg: Yerassyl Zhakpekov, Kazakhstan 91kg: Nurlan Sabirov, Kazakhstan +91kg: Yerkin Mukhamedzhan, Kazakhstan
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