Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament – Finals

Kyrgyzstan claimed five gold medals in the Shopokov Memorial Tournament
The Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament has finished in the capital city of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek where the host nation of the event claimed five gold medals. Russia secured three top positions which is their best performance in the recent editions while Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan both achieved one gold medal in Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan’s strong trio Azat Usenaliev, Omurbek Malabekov and Ermek Sakenov all defeated their rivals and won gold medals in the important preparation event where ten nations fought for the prizes.

Light Flyweight class (49 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s 22-year-old Turat Osmonov had a great year in 2014 when he won 85% of his bouts and claimed bronze in the Asian Games in Incheon. The Kyrgyz Light Flyweight class (49 kg) boxer returned in top shape in 2016 and defeated his main local rival two-time National Champion younger hope Rakhmankul Avatov in the semi-finals and he was also able to defeat Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibosynov in the gold medal bout.

Flyweight class (52 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev defeated Russia’s Artem Mirzayev in the semi-final of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament. The best Kyrgyz boxer, who fought at the World Series of Boxing, had to meet with Algeria’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Mohamed Flissi in the final and he was able to find the best fighting distance which delivered for him a gold medal while Uzbekistan’s star Jasurbek Latipov claimed only bronze medal in Bishkek.

Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov defeated Kazakhstan’s former ASBC Asian Junior Champion Stoyan Mazur, WSB boxer Mirbek Sherov, his main local rival Sirodjiddin Abdullayev in the semi-final and finally he was too strong for Uzbekistan’s Sardor Muzaffarov as well. Malabekov was member of the Ukraine Otamans WSB franchise last year and his physical condition is wonderful which delivered for him a gold while Iraq’s 19-year-old Jaafar Ali Abdulridha Al-Sudhani secured bronze medal in the event besides to Abdullayev.

Lightweight class (60 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov defeated Kazakhstan’s former ASBC Asian Junior Champion Stoyan Mazur, WSB boxer Mirbek Sherov, his main local rival Sirodjiddin Abdullayev in the semi-final and finally he was too strong for Uzbekistan’s Sardor Muzaffarov as well. Malabekov was member of the Ukraine Otamans WSB franchise last year and his physical condition is wonderful which delivered for him a gold while Iraq’s 19-year-old Jaafar Ali Abdulridha Al-Sudhani secured bronze medal in the event besides to Abdullayev.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist and AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Ermek Sakenov was too strong for Kazakhstan’s Abdukhalil Baltiyev in the last four and as walked over to the gold medal in Bishkek as Algeria’s veteran and two-time Olympian Abdelkader Chadi was not able to fight against him in the final. Kyrgyzstan’s talented 19-year-old Abdurakhman Abdurakhmanov defeated two top rivals and finally claimed bronze in Bishkek.

Welterweight class (69 kg):
The host nation’s 19-year-old Ikhtiyar Shabdanbayev has done incredible job in the whole Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament where he was able to beat two Kazakh boxers and Algeria’s All Africa Games silver medallist Zoheir Kedache in the semi-finals but he could not get the title on home soil. The gold medal went to Russia as Islam Dumanov was able to beat him while Kyrgyzstan’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Adilet Batyraliyev bagged a valuable bronze in the event.

Middleweight class (75 kg):
Uzbekistan’s former ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Israil Madrimov was also silver medallist in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games but he had unsuccessful campaign in the elite level in 2015 and decided to move up to the Middleweight class (75 kg). The 21-year-old Uzbek boxer defeated all of his rivals in a close bout in Bishkek, in the semi-final he had to do his very best against Turkmenistan’s No.1 in this weight class Arslanbek Achilov and following that hectic contest he could beat Kazakhstan’s Nurzhan Zhakan for the gold as well.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):
Kazakhstan’s Abzal Kuttybekov won several international tournaments in the recent three years but he was not the main favourite of the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg). Following his victory over Kyrgyzstan’s Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Erkin Adilbek Uulu in the semi-finals he had to meet with Algeria’s two-time Olympic Games quarter-finalist Abdelhafid Benchabla is member of the national team since 2005 and proved his technique in Bishkek as well. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Kuttybekov which result was a small surprise in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament.

Heavyweight class (91 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sergei Parenko returned to the national team and delivered a small surprise defeating top rivals in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament. His final rival was Russia’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Islam Tekeyev who eliminated Algeria’s star Chouaib Bouloudinat in the semi-final but Parenko could solve that tactical job in the front of the home crowd.

Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):
Uzbekistan’s former ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Championships silver medallist Ulugbek Mubinov defeated Kyrgyzstan’s defending National Champion Shermukhammad Khakimov in the semi-final of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament but he was not enough strong to beat Russia’s Artem Suslenkov who won the gold medal in 2014 as well therefore this victory was his second in Bishkek.