World Olympic Qualification Event – Day2 Report

South Korea and Iraq had great day in the World Olympic Qualification Event in Baku

The World Olympic Qualification Event continued with the second competition day in Baku, Azerbaijan where four sessions were held this Friday. Six weight classes fought in the second preliminary day in Baku which was another success for the Asian boxers. The Asian boxers delivered 10 victories on Day1 while our continent’s hopes have done a big job on Day2 with 18 triumphs.

Flyweight class (52 kg):

Tajikistan’s Fayzen Rakhmatshoev competed in the 2014 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and at the 2014 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships but this is the very first time when he can box in an international elite competition. The 18-year-old talent found the best fighting distance against Estonia’s Kirill Serikov and led 20:18 in all judges after two rounds. The Tajik youngster was not enough focused in the final round but his previous efforts were enough to keep the victory.
South Korea’s AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Kim In Kyu had disadvantage after the first round against Germany’s Baku 2015 European Games bronze medallist Hamza Touba but he was able to change his tactic in time. The German boxer was taller but Kim could reduce the fighting distance successfully from the second round and turned back their difficult contest.

Bantamweight class (56 kg):

Iraq’s 19-year-old talent Jaafar Abdulredha Al-Sudani had difficulties against Georgia’s London 2012 Olympian Merab Turkadze in the first round but the young hope changed his tactic from the second three minutes. The Iraqi boxer worked from longer distance in the second and third rounds which was successful against the powerful Georgian in Baku. The final verdict of their bout was unanimous decision to Al-Sudani who eliminated a tough European rival on Day 2.
Iran’s 24-year-old Ehsan Sepahvandi returned to the national squad after a short break and proved his very best against Poland’s Adrian Kowal who could not stop the Persian attacks in their contest. Asia’s next triumph in this weight class was achieved by Mongolia’s super talented Erdenebat Tsendbaatar who won almost all of his contests in the recent two years therefore Italy’s Riccardo D’Andrea did not have the realistic chance to stop him in the first preliminary round of the category.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):

Kyrgyzstan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Ermek Sakenov met in his opening contest in Baku with Japan’s veteran Masatsugu Kawachi. The Japanese boxer claimed bronze medal in the Chicago 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championships and competed in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The Kyrgyz boxer, who was near to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Qian’an, dominated all of the rounds against the Japanese veteran and advanced to the last 32 in Baku where his next opponent will be Italy’s 24-year-old Donato Cosenza.
Jordan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Obada Al-Kasbeh had great years in 2013 and in 2014 and trying to find his best shape. The 22-year-old Jordanian hope began his contest better than Guatemala’s Carlos Daniel Tobar who was semi-finalist in the AIBA American Olympic Qualification Event in Buenos Aires. Al-Kasbeh had difficulties in the second round but his final efforts were enough to beat his Central American rival in Baku.
India’s former Commonwealth Games winner and London 2012 Olympian Manoj Kumar lost to Kazakhstan’s new star Abylaykhan Zhussupov in the first preliminary round in the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event in Qian’an. The Indian boxer did much better in the first round in Baku against such a great opponent as Puerto Rico’s AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Danielito Zorrilla. Kumar had an amazing final round which decided to the bout to the Indian veteran.

Middleweight class (75 kg):

Mongolia’s Narmandakh Shinebayar has been competing in the international level since 2006 and claimed medals in several events. The 28-year-old Mongolian controlled the first round against Finland’s Dmytro Tretyak in Baku and tried to keep the same level until the final gong in their tough contest. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the Mongolian boxer who advanced to the last 32 in the competition.
Turkmenistan’s Arslanbek Achilov had amazing stopping punches in the first round against Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Shabbos Negmatulloev who will be turning to 19 only later this year. The Turkmen boxer had strict attacks in the second round and tried to save energies for later actions in the final three minutes. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Achilov but Negmatulloev was also great in the contest and will have great future in our sport.
South Korea’s Lee Dong Yun fought out his place in the national squad only in the recent months but his skills were enough to advance to the next preliminary round in the World Olympic Qualification Event. The South Korean boxer won all of the rounds against Slovenia’s 26-year-old Andrej Bakovic and will now meet with Pakistan’s Tanveer Ahmad in the competition.
Nick Frese Sitsongpeenong was born in Amsterdam but he has been fighting for Thailand in the international level. He has not got too much contests yet but the 21-year-old talent was able to dominate his opening contest against Guatemala’s Jose Maria Virula Lopez who returned to the world of boxing after four years of break. Frese won all of the rounds as the scoring of 10:9 and advanced to the last 32 in Baku.
Japan’s two-time National Champion Makoto Takahashi is not enough tall in this weight class but he ha got an aggressive tactic which delivered for him a great success over Austria’s Edin Avdic. Our continent’s next triumph was delivered by Iraq’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Waheed Abderredha who was too strong for Argentina’s Angel Joaquin Lingua.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):

South Korea’s Yang Hee Geun won the gold medal at the World Military in Yeongju last October and following that his career turned into a new era. The strong Korean stopped Bahamas’ Israel Johnson’s attacks in the first round and dominated the whole bout which delivered for him a place in the last 32 in Baku. The Korean boxer proved he has got realistic chance to get the spot for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
China’s WSB boxer Shi Guojun had mot meet with another Asian athlete in Baku, Tajikistan’s 20-year-old Mekhrubon Sanginov and he could use his experiences to beat his Central Asian rival in Baku. India’s London 2012 Olympian Sumit Sangwan had big difficulties in the recent years but he was unstoppable on Day 2 against Trinidad & Tobago’s Andrew Fermin and advanced to the next stage of the competition.

Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):

Kyrgyzstan’s Konstantin Li had a few good results at the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) in 2007 and following that he retired from the sport. The veteran boxer demonstrated his power in the first round against Bahamas’ Keishno Major but he was not enough shape in the second when the Caribbean athlete had great movements. The Central Asian boxer was enough strong to keep his advantage and win the bout in the final round. Asia’s second triumph in this weight class was delivered by India’s Satish Kumar who defeated Tonga’s Manase Rakaidroka who trains in Los Angeles.