Five Asian gold medals in the strong Governor Cup
The Governor Cup was held in St. Petersburg where the Asian stars won half of the gold medals in the strong competition. Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev returned with amazing performance in the event while the strong Uzbeks dominated the finals in the Governor Cup.
Uzbekistan claimed altogether 10 medals in the Governor Cup including four gold medals in St. Petersburg and produced similar performance as the host Russians. The Uzbek team has been preparing to the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and following their successful step in St. Petersburg their next one will be the Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup in Astana.
Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov claimed silver medal in the Subic Bay 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships and he developed step by step among the elite boxers but he achieved an unexpected gold medal in the Governor Cup. The 23-year-old Uzbek had to meet in the final with his star teammate Rio 2016 Olympic Games gold medallist Shakhobiddin Zoirov but Mirzakhalilov was able to solve that tactical job and won the title of the bantamweight (56kg).
Israil Madrimov is the defending ASBC Asian Champion at the middleweight (75kg) who did not give any chance to his opponents in St. Petersburg where he won all of the rounds at the final against Russia’s Gleb Bakshi. His teammate Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist and two-time ASBC Asian Champion Bektemir Melikuziev also impressed with his energetic style and the 22-year-old star defeated Russia’s National Champion Georgiy Kushitashvili in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg).
Uzbekistan’s fourth gold medal was taken by another ASBC Asian Champion and AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist boxer, Bakhodir Jalolov who is in his best form this year. The 24-year-old Uzbek super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer knocked down his Russian rival Vladislav Muravin in the final and the host country’s ringside abandoned their unequal contest. Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner Hasanboy Dusmatov and his Russian opponent Bator Sagaluev did a sensational final at the light flyweight (49kg) and the host nation boxer won that bout surprisingly by split decision.
Kyrgyzstan sent a strong team to the Governor Cup and their ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev eliminated Russia’s Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Tamir Galanov in the semi-final. The 27-year-old Kyrgyz flyweight (52kg) boxer was hungry for a big success and controlled the first two rounds in the final against Kazakhstan’s Azat Makhmetov. Following Usenaliev’s shots the Kazakh boxer injured in the third round and the Kyrgyz hope returned with a superb success to the international level.
Kazakhstan had four medallists in the Governor Cup, Bocskai Memorial Tournament winner Azat Makhmetov claimed silver in St. Petersburg. Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Yerzhan Zhomart (49kg), National Champion Adilet Kurmetov (60kg) and Abzal Kuttybekov (91kg) were getting their further podium places following their losses in the semi-finals.
Asian winners in the Governor Cup in St. Petersburg
52kg: Azat Usenaliev, Kyrgyzstan
56kg: Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov, Uzbekistan
75kg: Israil Madrimov, Uzbekistan
81kg: Bektemir Melikuziev, Uzbekistan
+91kg: Bakhodir Jalolov, Uzbekistan
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