Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament – Day1 Report

The Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament has begun in Bishkek
The first competition day at the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament delivered big battles in the preliminary round in Bishkek where ten nations are competing for the medals in Asia’s first main international competition in 2016. The top boxers of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament such as Kyrgyzstan’s Omurbek Malabekov, Algeria’s Reda Benbaziz and Uzbekistan’s Israil Madrimov won their opening battles.

Light Flyweight class (49 kg):
The key bout of the lowest weight class in the opening day was held between Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibosynov and Uzbekistan’s Mironshokh Ibragimov who both are among the gold medal favourites in Bishkek. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the Kazakh boxer who advanced to quarter-finals in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament.

Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov had a hard opponent in the opening round of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament as he had to meet with Kazakhstan’s former ASBC Asian Junior Champion Stoyan Mazur. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Malabekov while in another spectacular bout Sardor Muzaffarov won the Uzbek battle against his teammate Sherbek Rakhmatullayev in Bishkek.

Lightweight class (60 kg):
Iraq’s AIBA Asian Olympic Qualifiers bronze medallist Hasan Ammar Jabbar used his quick attacks to beat Kazakhstan’s Meirzhan Pirtayev in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament and advanced to the last eight. Algeria’s AFBC African Champion Reda Benbaziz had more experiences in the international level than Uzbekistan’s National Championships silver medallist Ulugbek Dusmurodov and defeated his tough Central Asian rival in the opening round of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament.

Welterweight class (69 kg):
Kazakhstan’s Bekzat Risbekov shocked Kyrgyzstan’s national team member Erkinbek Bolotbek Uulu in the opening round of the category. The host nation’s other top boxers in this weight class such as 19-year-old Ikhtiyar Shabdanbayev, National Championships silver medallist Ilyas Mukanbetov and former AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Adilet Batyraliyev won their first bouts in the event.

Middleweight class (75 kg):
Uzbekistan’s Israil Madrimov was silver medallist in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games but he had unsuccessful campaign in 2015 and decided to move up to the Middleweight class (75 kg). The 21-year-old Uzbek boxer had to test his current skills against Kazakhstan’s Abay Tolesh but he was able to solve that mission in Bishkek.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):
Russia’s Timur Pirdamov is one of the favourite of the category who had not so easy task to beat Turkmenistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Azizbek Achilov in the opening round. Kyrgyzstan’s No.1, Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Erkin Adilbek Uulu also advanced to the next round following his TKO victory over Kazakhstan’s Bayanbek Sametov.

Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s defending National Champion Shermukhammad Khakimov had a very hectic job against Algeria’s WSB boxer Mohamed Grimes in the opening round of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament in Bishkek. The final verdict was split decision to Khakimov who proved his very best in their contest and advanced to the next round.