Kyrgyzstan has got 13 finalists in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament
The semi-finals of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament were held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where the fourth competition day 20 contests were in the schedule in the first big Asian event in 2017. The host nation’s top boxers such as 2013 ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev, Omurbek Malabekov, Ermek Sakenov and Sergei Parenko all advanced to the finals while China and Uzbekistan also proved great performance in Bishkek on Day4.
Light flyweight (49kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s defending National Champion Mirlan Turkbay Uulu met with his super talented teammate 18-year-old Syrgak Dzhanseitov in the semi-final of the lowest weight class. The ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist teenager was a competitive rival for Turkbay Uulu who needed to do his very best to beat Dzhanseitov in the Shopokov Memorial Tournament. The winner of their contest will be meeting with another Kyrgyz National Champion Rakhmankul Avatov in the final of the event.
Flyweight (52kg):
Azat Usenaliev was gold medallist in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan but he could not qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Kyrgyzstan’s top boxer returned to the ring and dominated his quarter-final bout at the flyweight (52kg) against Naryn-based Daykan Zhanybek Uulu. Usenaliev was enough technician to beat Kazakhstan’s Bagdat Tolybaev and will now meet for the gold medal with Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Turat Osmonov who is his main rival in Kyrgyzstan in this weight class.
Bantamweight (56kg):
Sirodjiddin Abdullaev won two big international competitions in 2016 and he is Kyrgyzstan’s next great hope in the new Olympic era. The 21-year-old bantamweight (56kg) boxer managed his first bout with a KO success and used his strength to win his quarter-final contest against Altynbek Ismanov who trains in Talas, Kyrgyzstan. Abdullaev had hard job against Kanatbek Abduvakhob Uulu in the semi-final but he was able to solve that tactical job as well and will now face for the gold with Mirbek Sherov which bout will be the repeat match of the final of the last edition of the Kyrgyz National Championships.
Lightweight (60kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov moved up to the lightweight (60kg) in the recent weeks and tried to do his very best in the quarter-finals stage of the event. The 25-year-old experienced boxer controlled his fight against his teammate Argen Kadyrbek Uulu in the quarter-final and he was too experienced also for 20-year-old Munarbek Seyitbek Uulu in the last four. His final opponent will be Kyrgyzstan’s Erzhan Turgunbekov who surprisingly eliminated the current Uzbek National Champion 19-year-old Ulugbek Komilov.
Light welterweight (64kg):
China’s Abduraim Maimaiti delivered one of the main sensation in the semi-finals during the fourth competition day when he eliminated Uzbekistan’s former AIBA Junior World Champion Aliyor Noraliyev who was bronze medallist in their last Nationals. The Xinjiang-based Chinese boxer will now meet for the gold medals with Kyrgyzstan’s experienced athlete Nurlan Kobashev who returned to the boxing world with such a great success advancing to the final in Bishkek. The Kyrgyz boxer defeated Ukraine’s Bohdan Golovach in the second semi-final of the category.
Welterweight (69kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist and AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Ermek Sakenov moved up to the welterweight (69kg) in the recent months and he is chasing his first Olympic Games. The Kyrgyz veteran had to do his very best against Kazakhstan’s Stanislav Tsoy in the quarter-final and after that bout he did much better in the last four. Sakenov was too smart for his teammate Taalaybek Aytbek Uulu and advanced to the final where his last opponent will be China’s two-time Olympian Maimaitituersun Qiong who defeated Uzbekistan’s Odiljon Aslonov.
Middleweight (75kg):
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist 19-year-old Kozimbek Mardonov is one of the favourite of the middleweight (75kg) who controlled his quarter-final against China’s Xinjiang-based Toktuchong Molla and following that he defeated Kyrgyzstan’s veteran Azamat Kanybek Uulu in a narrow bout. The Uzbek teenager will now meet for the gold with a local boxer Ilyaz Akmataliyev who defeated the current Kyrgyz National Champion Ykhtyiar Shabdanbayev in the second semi-final.
Light heavyweight (81kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s lone Rio 2016 Olmypian boxer Erkin Adylbek Uulu is one of the main gold medal contender of the light heavyweight (81kg) who eliminated his teammate Bektur Alymbek Uulu in the quarter-final and continued his winning path against Uzbekistan’s promising Khasankhon Baratov in the last four. Adylbek Uulu, who was Kyrgyzstan’s flag bearer in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, will be boxing for the title with Kazakhstan’s Taraz-based Murat Baygaziyev.
Heavyweight (91kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sergei Parenko is also the current National Champion of the host nation who worked well in the semi-finals against Kazakhstan’s former AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships competitor Arbek Abduganiyev. The 27-year-old Kyrgyz boxer won their contest by unanimous decision and will be facing with Uzbekistan’s National Championships bronze medallist Sardorbek Yormukhammedov in the title bout.
Super heavyweight (+91kg):
Uzbekistan’s National Championships bronze medallist Rustamjon Ismoilov delivered great performance against China’s Xinjiang-based Akhmet Maimaiti and secured his place in the final of the highest weight class. The second finalist will be China’s Abdusamet Abulit who had clear punches against Kyrgyzstan’s Stalbek Karasartov in their semi-final. The Uzbek and the Chinese boxers advanced to the finals which will be held tomorrow.