ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships – Finals Report

Kazakhstan is the most successful with six gold medals in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar

The amazing competitions of the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships finished in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan where the tournament and its organization were in the highest level. Ten new winners have been crowned in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar and among them six gold medals remained in Kazakhstan, three went to Uzbekistan while Japan also could get a title in the event.

Light Flyweight class (49 kg):

Kazakhstan’s Ermek Serikov Youth Memorial Tournament winner Vasilii Samchuk eliminated India’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sachin Siwach Singh in the quarter-final and Kyrgyzstan’s National Elite Championships silver medallist Syrgak Dzhanseitov in the semi-final. His gold medal opponent was Uzbekistan’s Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament winner Otabek Kholmatov who was taller than his Kazakh rival. The Uzbek boxer found the best fighting distance quickly while Samchuk attacked from the first seconds with great enthusiasm. Samchuk had great stamina until the final bell to win that difficult contest in Pavlodar.

Flyweight class (52 kg):

Korea’s 17-year-old Lee Hee Seop proved superb performance in the previous rounds against tough athletes in Pavlodar in spite of the fact he has been competing in his first international competition. The Korean southpaw attacked from the first rounds against Japan’s Hayato Tsutsumi who eliminated Kazakhstan’s star Aidos Arapov in the semi-final. The Japanese boxer tried to use closer fighting distance in their contest and he was successful with hooks and uppercuts while the Korean had quicker attacks. Tsutsumi worked better in the final round which was the difference between them therefore Japan could get a gold medal in the championships in Pavlodar. Tsutsumi won Japan’s first ever gold medal in the history of the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships.

Bantamweight class (56 kg):

Kazakhstan’s Serik Temirzhanov did revenge to his previous loss to Uzbekistan’s Danas Pozniakas Youth Memorial Tournament winner Shunkor Abdurasulov in the semi-final of the championships in Pavlodar and focused to his gold medal bout against Kyrgyzstan’s Nursultan Mamataly who is a new talent and a big surprise in the event. The Kyrgyz boxer eliminated Japan’s Taiga Imanaga in the semi-final but his opponent in the final was a more stronger opponent for Mamataly. Pavlodar-based Temirzhanov used the middle of the ring to control the bout in the front of the home crowd. The referee counted the Kyrgyz boxer in the third round which demonstrated the dominance of the host nation boxer who claimed the gold medal in his home city.

Lightweight class (60 kg):

India’s Youth National Champion Ankush Dahiya triumphed over Kazakhstan’s Kazbek Sapenov in the semi-final of the category but his next opponent for the gold medal was Uzbekistan’s AIBA Junior World Champion Bilolbek Mirzarakhimov who eliminated Turkmenistan’s Muhammet Berdibayev in a narrow contest in the last four. Uzbekistan’s 17-year-old top talent felt the rhythm in the first round well enough and used different tactic what was successful for him in the recent bouts. Mirzarakhimov was in different level than his Indian rival today and secured a further gold medal in his career.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):

Ashish Kulhriya was named as Best Boxer of the Indian Youth National Championships and tried to be quicker against Kazakhstan’s Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament silver medallist Ayatulla Takizhanov who trains in the Pavlodar region. The taller Kazakh boxer worked from longer distance in the final against India’s best youth competitor and his southpaw stance was uncomfortable for the South Asian talent. The Kazakh boxer was better today than his Indian opponent who could not repeat his previous performance in the day of the finals and suffered a loss to Takizhanov.

Welterweight class (69 kg):

Uzbekistan’s Agalarov Youth Memorial Tournament winner Ulugbek Sobirov eliminated Japan’s Zen Kuroyanagi in the semi-final and prepared well to his final against Kazakhstan’s Oleg Matveichuk who eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s Aybek Akylbek Uulu in the last four. Sobirov defeated Kazakhstan’s top athlete Sadreddin Akhmedov in Azerbaijan a few month ago but needed to do his very best to control the first round against Matveichuk. The rhythm of their contest was raised in the second three minutes when the Kazakh hope returned to the bout with tough punches. The final verdict was split decision to Ulugbek Sobirov who claimed Uzbekistan’s second gold medal in Pavlodar.

Middleweight class (75 kg):

Kazakhstan’s Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament winner Aman Kazankapov had a close victory over Uzbekistan’s Shokhrukhbek Rustamov in the semi-final of the championships. His gold medal opponent was Turkmenistan’s Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup silver medallist Nuryagdy Nuryagdyyev who demonstrated his great technique against China’s Zhang Jilei in the second semi-final. The Turkmen boxer tried to work from longer distance and he was a hard target for Kazankapov in the gold medal bout. Their bout was a tactical one in Pavlodar which delivered the first success for Kazakhstan in the day of the finals due the great final round of the host nation’s talent.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):

Uzbekistan’s Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament winner Sanjar Tursunov eliminated Turkmenistan’s strong Mustapa Charyyev by unanimous decision in the quarter-final and he did not give any chance to China’s Xinjiang-based Maimaiti Maierdan in the semi-final. After these successes he was the favourite against India’s Reyal Puri in the gold medal bout of the category in Pavlodar. The Uzbek boxer was patient, awaited for the best attacking moments and he used up Puri’s faults in the second round successfully. Tursunov had great footwork in the final round which delivered for him a gold medal in Pavlodar.

Heavyweight class (91 kg)

Uzbekistan’s Agalarov Youth Memorial Tournament winner Shokhruz Rakhimov arrived to Pavlodar as the main gold medal contender of the Heavyweight class (91 kg). The Uzbek southpaw eliminated Korea’s Lee Yun Taek in the semi-final and after that tough contest he met with Kazahstan’s Dmitriy Akhtsiger. The Kostanay-based host nation boxer tried to do his very best but the Uzbek southpaw had stronger punches in the first round of their finals. Akhtsiger returned with a strong uppercut in the second and his efforts were enough to beat his Uzbek rival in Pavlodar.

Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg)

Uzbekistan’s Danas Pozniakas Youth Tournament winner Abdulla Khudorganov fought for the gold medal with Kazakhstan’s Dildabekov Prizes Junior Tournament winner Nurdaulet Ulanuly who eliminated India’s Manjeet Singh in the semi-final. The youngest team member of the Kazakh youth team had lethal right hand therefore Khudorganov did not do any risky movements in the first round. The Uzbek boxer turned up the heat in the second three minutes when several of his jabs reached the target but Ulanuly adopted that level and won their spectacular contest which delivered Kazakhstan’s sixth gold medal in Pavlodar.