Makhmetov and Zhakpekov defeated top opponents at the Elorda Cup on Day3
The second edition of the Elorda International Cup had a fantastic third competition day in Astana, Kazakhstan where several of the experienced boxers won their contests. Bahrain’s Azat Makhmetov eliminated Uzbekistan’s Youth World Champion Shakhzod Muzafarov while Kazakhstan’s Yermakhan Zhakpekov also defeated one of the stars.
The Elorda Cup will be a money prize event, all of the gold medallists will earn 700 USD, the silver medallists 400 USD and the two boxers who will take the bronze medals each will get 200 USD from the local organizers. Bahrain, China, India, Japan, host Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan sent boxers to the 2nd edition of the Elorda Cup.
Thailand’s Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Jutamas Jitpong is one of the stars of the bantamweight (54kg) who had an excellent battle against China’s Li Yijie but due to her last round, the Southeast Asian girl succeeded.
Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova is a 34-year-old veteran boxer but she is still hungry fir the further successes and she is speed enough to beat all of her younger opponents. Shekerbekova’s 14-years routine in the international stage paid off today against India’s Shiksha and she marched to the next stage at the women’s bantamweight (54kg).
China’s Chang Yuan is a fantastic boxer, she started her career with a gold medal at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. The currently 26-year-old boxer decided to move up to the bantamweight (54kg) and the Elorda Cup is her debut in this category but she was punctual and strong enough to beat a local teenager, Elina Bazarova.
Kazakhstan’s World Champion from 2021 and the Olympic Games bronze medallist Saken Bibossynov was too smart for India’s Zoram Muana and he marched the next stage of the men’s flyweight (51kg). Thailand’s Thanarat Saengphet who bowed out Daniyal Sabit in a narrow bout, made another excellent performance in that weight class.
Bahrain’s ex-Kazakh boxer Azat Makhmetov is a 32-year-old experienced boxer but he was not the favourite against Uzbekistan’s 2021 Youth World Champion Shakhzod Muzafarov. Makhmetov competes at the Elorda Cup at the bantamweight (54kg) but he had the speed and stamina to eliminate the Uzbek boxer today.
“I am happy and elated, especially against such talented opponent and former Youth World Champion. I felt much fresher today in this weight class and all good with my preparation for the Asian Games,” said Bahrain’s Azat Makhmetov following his victory. Kazakhstan’s Yermakhan Zhakpekov produced excellent performance as a youth boxer in 2017 and in 2018 and he developed step by step in the previous years. The light middleweight (71kg) boxer had a strong motivation to beat Japan’s World Champion Sewon Okazawa and Zhakpekov won their meeting today.
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