Shopokov Memorial Tournament – Semi-finals

Exciting semi-finals were held in Bishkek
The exciting semi-finals were held at the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where the host nation, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Algeria were the bests. Kyrgyzstan has got seven finalists in the competition where top boxers will be fighting for the gold medals.

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 returned in top shape in 2016 and defeated his main local rival two-time National Champion Rakhmankul Avatov in the semi-finals. His gold medal opponent will be Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibosynov who eliminated Russian National Champion Belik Galanov which was a small surprise 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 and continued the winning path against Russia’s Artem Mirzayev. His final opponent will be Algeria’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Mohamed Flissi 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 and his main local rival Sirodjiddin Abdullayev in the semi-final. Iraq’s talented 19-year-old Abdulridha Ali Al-Sudhani was near to reach the final of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament but he was defeated by Uzbekistan’s Sardor Muzaffarov.

Lightweight class (60 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s National Championships silver medallist young Bek Kamchibekov shocked Kazakhstan’s former National Champion Yerzhan Ordabayev in the quarter-finals and defeated another good name in the last four Iraq’s AIBA Asian Olympic Qualifiers bronze medallist Hasan Ammar Jabbar. He needs only one final step to get the gold medal but his rival will be Russia’s experienced Konstantin Bogomazov in Bishkek.

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 expected he advanced to the final in Bishkek. Sakenov has got good chance to defend his throne as his opponent will be Algeria’s veteran Abdelkader Chadi.

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 Algeria’s Zoheir Kedache in the semi-finals. Kyrgyzstan’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Adilet Batyraliyev lost to Russia’s Islam Dumanov in the second semi-final which means Shabdanbayev will meet for the gold with the Russian hope.

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 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 will face with Kazakhstan’s Nurzhan Zhakan.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):
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 North African team captain defeated Russia’s Timur Pirdamov in the quarter-finals and he was too smart for Kazakhstan’s new face Murat Baygaziyev. Kyrgyzstan’s Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Erkin Adilbek Uulu was not able to continue his great series in Bishkek and lost to Kazakhstan’s Abzal Kuttybekov in the second semi-final.

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 advancing to the final of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament. His final rival will be a top one, Russia’s AIBA Youth World Champion Islam Tekeyev who eliminated Algeria’s star Chouaib Bouloudinat in the second semi-final.

Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):
Uzbekistan’s former ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Championships silver medallist Ulugbek Mubinov defeated Kyrgyzstan’s National Champion Shermukhammad Khakimov in the semi-final of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament. He will meet for the gold with Russia’s previous winner in the event Artem Suslenkov.