Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament – Quarter-finals

Usenaliev and Sakenov advanced to the semi-finals in Bishkek
The quarter-finals were held at the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where the host nation, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iraq were the bests among the Asian countries. Kyrgyzstan’s two icons such as Azat Usenaliev and Ermek Sakenov both won their quarter-final bouts in the front of the local crowd.

Light Flyweight class (49 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s 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 is trying to regain his place in the national team and proved is best against his teammate Edil Kyrbashev in the quarter-finals. Osmonov’s main local rival two-time National Champion 20-year-old Rakhmankul Avatov defeated a talented hope Algeria’s Zoheir Toudjine and also advanced to the semi-finals in Bishkek.

Flyweight class (52 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev advanced to the semi-finals after beating Kazakhstan’s Almas Nurgali winning the bout by unanimous decision. The 24-year-old star’s main opponent for the gold medal could be Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Jasurbek Latipov who eliminated Iraq’s Shakir Hassan Ali Al-Kaabi. Another top ranked athlete Algeria’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Mohamed Flissi defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Nouruzbay Nasridinov and secured also his place in the last four in Bishkek.

Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov eliminated Kazakhstan’s former ASBC Asian Junior Champion Stoyan Mazur and continued his winning path against his compatriot Mirbek Sherov. Iraq’s talented 19-year-old Abdulridha Ali Al-Sudhani is already a guaranteed medallist in Bishkek where he triumphed over Kyrgyzstan’s Kanatbek Abduvakhab Uulu in a hectic bout.

Lightweight class (60 kg):
Iraq’s AIBA Asian Olympic Qualifiers bronze medallist Hasan Ammar Jabbar eliminated Kazakhstan’s Meirzhan Pirtayev and surprisingly he was also too quick for Algeria’s AFBC African Champion Reda Benbaziz who was a favourite in Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan’s National Championships silver medallist young Bek Kamchibekov shocked Kazakhstan’s former National Champion Yerzhan Ordabayev and advanced to the semi-finals where his next opponent will be the host nation’s No.1 Akzhol Sulaymanbek Uulu who defeated Mirbolot Sabirzhan Uulu in the Top 8.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s best boxer besides to Usenaliev is AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Ermek Sakenov who defeated China’s Ye Erdawuleti in the last eight and also a guaranteed medallist in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament. Kazakhstan’s Abdukhalil Baltiyev eliminated Turkmenistan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Aziz Bebitov in another quarter-final contest which was a small surprise in Bishkek.

Welterweight class (69 kg):
The host nation’s 19-year-old Ikhtiyar Shabdanbayev won his opening bout and did another successful step defeating Kazakhstan’s Bekzod Risbekov in the quarter-final stage of the Shopokov Memorial Tournament. Former AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Adilet Batyraliyev defeated his teammate National Championships silver medallist Ilyas Mukanbetov while Russia’s Islam Dumanov and Algeria’s Zoheir Kedache are also in the semi-finals.

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 defeated Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Zhanabayev in a close bout but he can show his skills once again in the semi-finals. Turkmenistan’s No.1 in this weight class Arslanbek Achilov defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Marat Abdykalykov which means he is the lone remained boxer from his nation in Bishkek.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):
Russia’s Timur Pirdamov eliminated Turkmenistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Azizbek Achilov in the opening round but following that he was eliminated by Algeria’s two-time Olympian Abdelhafid Benchabla. Kyrgyzstan’s Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Erkin Adilbek Uulu delivered his second TKO triumph in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament, this time against China’s Yibulayin Abudureyimu.

Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s defending National Champion Shermukhammad Khakimov eliminated Algeria’s WSB boxer Mohamed Grimes and stopped Kazakhstan’s Kanagat Akhmedov in the quarter-finals in Bishkek. Uzbekistan’s former ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Championships silver medallist Ulugbek Mubinov defeated Kazakhstan’s 18-year-old Nurlan Saparbay while Russia’s previous winner in the event Artem Suslenkov also proved top performance in the quarter-finals of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament.