Melikuziev and Sabyrkhan won the battles of the finals in Chiang Mai

Shodiyorjon Melikuziev and Makhmud Sabyrkhan won the best male finals on the eleventh and last competition day at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, host Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam were the 21 participating nations in the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.

Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay defeated Japan’s Kazuma Aratake in the semi-finals of the minimumweight (48kg) in Chiang Mai and he had to face with another well-known opponent, Shodiyorjon Melikuziev. The taller Kazakh landed his punches from his safest distance but Melikuziev was quick enough to catch Tashkenbay with heavy shots. The 21-year-old Kazakh was caught by the Uzbek talent in the third round which was the decision making between them and surprisingly Melikuziev won their meeting.

Uzbekistan’s flyweight (51kg) talent, Asilbek Jalilov eliminated his main rival, Kazakhstan’s World Champion Saken Bibossynov in the quarter-finals and he has done the same job against Sri Lanka’s historic medallist Umayanga Mihiran in the last four. The Asian U22 Champion Uzbek met Philippines’ Marvin Tabamo and the first round was a close tactical period between them. Jalilov used his height advantage better in the second and third rounds therefore he became the Asian Elite Champion for the first time.

Kazakhstan’s World Champion and Paris Olympian Makhmud Sabyrkhan eliminated Thailand’s Sarawut Sukthet in the semi-finals of the bantamweight (54kg) and he expected a tough battle against Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Muzafarov. The Uzbek used his impressive footwork in the first round against the Kazakh star who had to increase his rhythm to catch Muzafarov. Both boxers landed dozens of punches per rounds in the bout of the day and Sabyrkhan’s fantastic finish was enough to win this final.

Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov won all of his main events in 2018 and in 2019 and after three years of break, the Tokyo Olympian returned to the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. The Uzbek featherweight (57kg) boxer had a Kazakh opponent, Orazbek Assylkulov in the final and he received several clear shots in their opener. The 26-year-old Kazakh landed multiple shots in his attacks but Mirzakhalilov returned to the contest in the second therefore the final verdict was depended on their performance in the third round. Mirzakhalilov made a big U-turn after the first round and he was able to beat his neighbour with stamina and strength.

Tajikistan’s Akmal Ubaidov is one of the main sensations in the lightweight (60kg), the 26-year-old boxer eliminated more experienced opponents from Kazakhstan and Ukraine in Chiang Mai and marched into the finals. He met Japan’s youngster Sota Nakayama in the final bout and he had the perfect start in the fifth final of the competition. The 21-year-old Japanese used his longer reach better in the second round and equalized the results in all of the judges’ scorecards. Ubaidov caught the Japanese boxer with heavy punches in the decisive third round and after Bakhodur Usmonov’s gold in 2019, he became the next Asian Champion from Tajikistan.

Thailand’s most experienced elite national team member, Somchay Wongsuwan had a tough semi-final against Kyrgyzstan’s Mirzokhid Imamnazarov and he expected another real battle against Uzbekistan’s Adkhamjon Mukhiddinov. The 22-year-old Uzbek developed so rapidly in terms of strength and he tried to dictate the world-class tempo in their final bout. Mukhiddinov worked hard in the last round but Wongsuwan’s counter-punches also reached the target. The Thai had to go three-times to the medical corner due to his cut and the ringside doctor confirmed Mukhiddinov’s RSCI victory.

Kazakhstan’s Dulat Bekbauov dominated all of his contests during his road to the finals of the welterweight (67kg) in Chiang Mai. The 29-year-old Kazakh used his height advantage against Mujibullo Tursunov of Uzbekistan in the final but the neighbouring opponent had the pressure in the first and second rounds. The winner of this fight was unclear after the second round therefore Tursunov mobilized all of his energies to win the final.

Uzbekistan’s Boxam Tournament winner Khavasbek Asadullayev and Kazakhstan’s three-time World bronze medallist Ablaikhan Zhussupov met in the final of the light middleweight (71kg). The returning Kazakh was technically better in the first round and he had the advantage on the scorecards after three minutes but Asadullayev came back with better defence and hooks in the second. Zhussupov achieved silver medals in 2017 and in 2021 and he earned his third Asian runner-up result due to Asadullayev’s finish.

Kazakhstan’s Dias Molzhigitov and the two-time Asian Youth Champion Javokhir Ummataliyev both are the next generation boxers at the middleweight (75kg). The 19-year-old Uzbek started the first round with a strong jab and he overcame his Kazakh rival in almost all of the exchanges. Ummataliyev had better rhythm in the second round and he proved his superb skills in this final which he won relatively easily in Chiang Mai.

Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullayev was Youth World Champion in 2022 and he bagged a bronze medal at the recent Asian Games at the age of 19. The Paris Olympian eliminated Kazakhstan’s Yerassyl Zhakpekov in the last four which was a crucial battle and he used his speed once again in the final against China’s Wang Jinxiang. The Chinese light heavyweight (80kg) boxer is tall, he has the athletic skills but Khabibullayev’s international routine was the decisive today.

Kazakhstan’s Bekzad Nurdauletov achieved the World title in 2019 and he also returned to the national team as Zhussupov. The 26-year-old Kazakh worked from close distance against Uzbekistan’s Jasurbek Yuldashev in the first and second rounds of their tough cruiserweight (86kg) final bout. Nurdauletov was more focused in the final round and he earned Kazakhstan’s second male gold medal in Chiang Mai.

Kazakhstan’s Asian Games bronze medallist Sagyndyk Togambay regained his place in the national team at the heavyweight (92kg) and he eliminated his main rival, Uzbekistan’s Madiyar Saidrakhimov in the quarter-finals. Togambay opened the first round of the final against Tajikistan’s Parviz Karimov with tough jabs and he finished the title contest in the second round after the third standing count. Kazakhstan’s Paris Olympian Aibek Oralbay achieved a gold medal at the heavyweight (92kg) in the 2022 edition of the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. The 24-year-old Kazakh moved up to the super heavyweight (+92kg) and he eliminated the star of the category, Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Zokirov. He had the same strong performance against China’s Xinjiang-based Abudurexiti Remula and he won his second Asian title after Amman.

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