Four Uzbek gold medals in the first day of the finals at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships
Uzbekistan proved sensational performance in the first day of the finals and Box-offs in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Tashkent. Uzbekistan claimed four gold medals and following their perfect performance Kazakhstan’s Vassiliy Levit defended his title in Asia. Japan was the most successful in the Box-offs but a developing Asian country, Pakistan also achieved a quota for the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships.
Bantamweight (56kg):
Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev claimed medals in all important events during his career and he is competing for the gold medal of the weight class. The Uzbek boxer did not give any chance to his opponents in the road to the final. Akhmadaliev met with China’s two-time Asian Games silver medallist Zhang Jiawei in the gold medal bout but started it in the highest possible level. The Uzbek boxer did his very best and delivered clear punches therefore Akhmadaliev could celebrate his first Asian title.
In the first Box-off of the day Indonesia’s Simon Makarawe defeated Bhutan’s Nima Dorji in a close contest and secured his country’s first place for the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. Japan’s Rio Test Event winner Ryomei Tanaka was motivated against India’s Gaurav Bidhuri in the second Box-off of the weight category. Both boxers moved up to the bantamweight (56kg) only in the recent months and among them Tanaka adopted the strength of the category better and qualified for Hamburg. His success meant Japan took its first quota place for the AIBA World Boxing Championships.
Lightweight class (60kg):
Mongolia’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Champion Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu was defeated by India’s two-time Olympian Shiva Thapa which was a surprise in the semi-final. The Indian boxer had to meet with Uzbekistan’s Elnur Abduraimov who began their contest with quick hooks. Abduraimov was slightly better in the first round when the Indian boxer injured therefore the judges picked him as the winner of the gold medal bout which was Uzbekistan’s second gold in Tashkent.
Kazakhstan’s Adilet Kurmetov knocked down Chinese Taipei’s Lai Chu En in the first round of their Box-off which determined their contest and the Central Asian bagged the spot for the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. Japan’s best boxer Arashi Morisaka was powerful against Indonesia’s Farrand Papendang in the first and second rounds and his efforts were enough to get a quota for Hamburg.
Middleweight (75kg):
Uzbekistan’s No.1 Israil Madrimov delivered a big battle in the second semi-final of the category against Kazakhstan’s promising star Abilkhan Amankul which was the early final. Madrimov began the final against South Korea’s Lee Dong Yun with top performance and his powerful punches were enough for him to win his first Asian title in Tashkent.
Turkmenistan’s Azizbek Achilov knocked down Indonesia’s Bram Hendra Betaubun in the first round of their Box-off which his opponent still survived. Achilov’s second lethal left-handed hook ended their contest which was a classical KO success and the experienced boxer earned Turkmenistan’s second quota for the upcoming Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. In the second Box-off of the category Philippines’ ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Eumir Felix Marcial dominated his fight against Syria’s Abdelmouen Aziz.
Light heavyweight (81kg):
Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Bektemir Melikuziev eliminated Iran’s Amin Ziadi, Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Shabbos Negmatulloev and China’s Huang Jiabin in the road to the final. The Uzbek star produced superb performance against Kazakhstan’s Yerik Alzhanov who eliminated Turkmenistan’s great future hope Nuryagdy Nuryagdyyev in the semi-final. Melikuziev controlled the first round against his Kazakh rival who tried to fight and launched a few strong punches mainly in the opening minutes. The Uzbek boxer was better in the second round and his efforts meant Melikuziev was able to defend his throne in Asia.
Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Shabbos Negmatulloev, who has been training with his father Abbos, overwhelmed his Malaysian rival, Adil Hafiz Mohamed Pauzi and bagged the spot for Hamburg following his quick RSC success. In the second Box-off of the category Pakistan’s Awais Ali Khan could celebrate his quota place for Hamburg following his triumph over India’s Manish Panwar.
Heavyweight (91kg):
Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Vassiliy Levit is the defending champion in Asia who is Kazakhstan’s most experiences boxer in their current national squad. The 29-year-old boxer faced for the title against India’s Sumit Sangwan who moved up to the heavyweight (91kg) only in the recent months. Levit’s hooks were successful in the second round against the brave Indian boxer who had the brave attempt to beat the Kazakh star. Levit controlled the final round and defended his throne in the Asian level.
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Sanjar Tursunov had to meet with a taller rival, Iran’s Salar Gholami who tried to avoid the punches of his younger opponent. Tursunov, who will be turning to 19 only later this year, won his contest against the Persian boxer therefore Uzbekistan can send 10 boxers to the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The sixth quota for Hamburg was achieved by China’s Yu Fengkai who walked over against Pakistan’s Sanaullah.