Niyazymbetov returned with gold medal at the Kazakhstan National Championships in Shymkent

The Kazakhstan National Boxing Championships for the elite men boxers was held in the city of Shymkent in the recent days which the 26th edition since the country became independent in 1991. Two-time Olympic Games silver medallist Adilbek Niyazymbetov returned in the event with top performance and won the gold in the strong light heavyweight (81kg).
The competition delivered several big surprises and new stars were born in the Kazakhstan National Boxing Championships in Shymkent. Kazakhstan’s new squad achieved impressive six medals in the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships where Kayrat Yeraliyev won the title at the bantamweight (56kg).
ASBC Asian Champion and WSB Team Champion Temirtas Zhussupov is an experienced light flyweight (49kg) boxer who used up his experiences to beat Sofia 2014 AIBA Youth World Champion Shalkar Aikynbay in the final of the event. Zhussupov is eight years older than his rival which was the difference between them in the title contest.
Olzhas Bayniyazov, who achieved bronze medal in the last edition in 2016, changed his medal into gold in Shymkent. The flyweight (52kg) boxer defeated ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Azamat Isakulov in the final while Anvar Muzaparov and Abai Kuandykov bagged the bronze medals. Two-time National Champion Azat Makhmetov and Rio 2016 Olympian Olzhas Sattibayev both were eliminated by younger hopes still in the first preliminary round.
Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner and WSB Team Champion Ilyas Suleimenov eliminated Nursultan Koshegulov in the semi-final and continued his winning series against Zhanbolat Kydyrbayev in the final of the bantamweight (56kg). The 27-year-old Suleimenov, who moved up from the flyweight (52kg), is one of the best boxer in this category not only in Kazakhstan but in the world as well.
AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Berik Abdrakhmanov defeated AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Sultan Zaurbek, Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Adilet Kurmetov and WSB Team Champion Zakir Safiullin during his campaign at the lightweight (60kg). The Rio 2016 Olympian Berik Abdrakhmanov has done a victorious and glorious return in Shymkent.
ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Bekdaulet Ibragimov was born in Tashkent but has been fighting for Kazakhstan. The 22-year-old light welterweight (64kg) talent was too strong for Sabyrzhan Bekbergenov in the final while Pavlodar’s Kuan Kuatov and ASBC Asian Youth Champion 18-year-old Sanatali Toltayev achieved only bronze medals in Shymkent.
In the absence of Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Ablaikhan Zhussupov, Aslanbek Shymbergenov shined at the welterweight (69kg) who dominated his final against Kanagat Maralov. The two-time WSB Team Champion Aslanbek Shymbergenov was named as the Best Boxer of the Kazakhstan National Boxing Championships after his tough performance.
Abai Tolesh, who has been competing in the international events since 2013, delivered a sensation in his opening bout when he defeated former ASBC Asian Youth Champion and Islamic Solidarity Games winner Tursynbai Kulakhmet. Following that unexpected success he defeated Azamat Bakytov, ASBC Asian Junior Champion Vladislav Stolbovskiy and ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Yerik Alzhanov which meant he was crowned at the middleweight (75kg).
Two-time Olympic Games silver medallist star Adilbek Niyazymbetov returned in the event and won the title after beating AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Bekzat Nurdauletov in the final. Another two 19-year-old boxers such as Bek Nurmaganbet and Mikhail Kokhanchik achieved the bronze medals in Shymkent. The biggest surprise of the light heavyweight (81kg) was delivered by Mikhail Kokhanchik who eliminated AIBA World Champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly in the quarter-finals.
In the absence of Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist and three-time ASBC Asian Champion Vassiliy Levit, Kazakhstan’s No.2 at the heavyweight (91kg) Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner and WSB Team Champion Anton Pinchuk controlled his contests including against Nurbol Altayev in the final.
In the absence of Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Kamshybek Kunkabayev and 20-year-old talent Nurlan Saparbay the super heavyweight (+91kg) was an open category in Shymkent. The gold medal was captured by FISU University World Champion Nursultan Amanzholov who defeated defending National Champion Olzhas Bukayev in a close final. President’s Cup bronze medallist 20-year-old Nurbolat Sermakhanov and 19-year-old Ayboldy Daurenuly both took the further podium places in Shymkent.

List of the winners in the Kazakhstan National Championships
49kg: Temirtas Zhussupov, 1988
52kg: Olzhas Bayniyazov, 1992
56kg: Ilyas Suleimenov, 1990
60kg: Berik Abdrakhmanov, 1986
64kg: Bekdaulet Ibragimov, 1995
69kg: Aslanbek Shymbergenov, 1993
75kg: Abay Tolesh, 1995
81kg: Adilbek Niyazymbetov, 1989
91kg: Anton Pinchuk, 1988
+91kg: Nursultan Amanzholov, 1993