Astana Arlans Kazakhstan advanced to the WSB Semi-finals

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan advanced to the WSB Semi-final as second Asian franchise after the Uzbek Tigers

WSB Team Champion Astana Arlans Kazakhstan won the second match 5-0 against Venezuela Caciques in Shymkent and the titleholder franchise eliminated their South American counterparts 9-1 in the Quarter-final of the Season VI. Following the Uzbek Tigers the second Asian franchise the Astana Arlans Kazakhstan advanced to the Semi-final of the World Series of Boxing.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan won the WSB Team Title in Season III and V but in spite of the final 9-1 result their boxers had to do their very best to beat Venezuela Caciques in Shymkent. Astana Arlans Kazakhstan lost only one match in Season VI in the Group D to the Uzbek Tigers but since then their boxers proved they are fighting for the next WSB title.
Yerzhan Zhomart, Nurbol Kalzhanov, Samat Bashenov and Abilkhan Amankul were their winners in the first day of the Quarter-final against Venezuela Caciques while all of their five boxers who were action in the second match left the ring with triumphs. The first victory of the Astana Arlans Kazakhstan was delivered by Azamat Issakulov at the Flyweight class (52 kg) who was able to beat Venezuela Caciques’ current AMBC American Confederation Champion 19-year-old Yoel Finol in a hectic contest.
Following Issakulov’s close victory Zakir Safiullin proved he is in different level than Venezuela Caciques’ AIBA American Olympic Qualification Event winner Luis Cabrera in the second bout of the day. ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Safiullin, who returned to the squad after a health problem of his baby daughter, fought with great stamina and his patient style with effective attacks were too much for the 21-year-old Venezuelan boxer. Safiullin’s triumph meant Astana Arlans Kazakhstan advanced to the WSB Semi-finals after seven bouts.
Kazakh National Championships bronze medallist Bekzod Khalmetov replaced WSB Boxer of Week 11 Aslanbek Shymbergenov in the squad and exceeded the previous expectations in Shymkent. The 24-year-old Welterweight class (69 kg) worked well against a world class opponent 29-year-old Gabriel Maestre who claimed bronze at the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships and gold at the Toronto 2015 Panamerican Games. Their contest was a close one but Khalmetov’s freshness delivered for him a success in Shymkent.
Two-time National Champion Arman Rysbek is a strong Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) boxer who had a great second and third round against Venezuela Caciques’ Nalek Korbaj in Shymkent. The Venezuelan boxer defeated Russian Boxing Team’s Gamzat Gazaliev in the last round of the Group Stage and he was also a competitive rival for Rysbek who had to concentrate until the final bell but finally his hand was raised.
Strandja Memorial Tournament winner Kamshybek Kunkabayev is No.2 just behind their star Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg) boxer Ivan Dychko. He is still in developing stage but proved even better and better performance in the recent two years in the international competitions. After the first tactical round Kunkabayev was able to launch a lethal punch against Edgar Ramon Munoz who went to the floor after that shot which was a classical KO triumph for the Kazakh boxer.

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan – Venezuela Caciques 5-0:

52 kg: Azamat Issakulov KAZ – Yoel Finol VEN 3-0
60 kg: Zakir Safiullin KAZ – Luis Cabrera VEN 3-0
69 kg: Bekzod Khalmetov KAZ – Gabriel Maestre VEN 3-0
81 kg: Arman Rysbek KAZ – Nalek Korbaj VEN 3-0
+91 kg: Kamshybek Kunkabayev KAZ – Edgar Ramon Munoz VEN KO 2nd round
Total Result: Astana Arlans Kazakhstan won 9-1