Syria and Iran dominated the Siege of Abadan Tournament

The Siege of Abadan Tournament was held in the city of Abadan, Khuzestan province which was famous of its Fajr Tournament in previous years. The Syrian team competed in Abadan with great success, their boxers claimed three gold medals in the event which is another great commitment to our sport from the war-torn country.
Among the developing nations of our continent Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan also sent boxers to the Siege of Abadan Tournament while strong Kazakhstan and Russia also sent team to the competition to Iran. Altogether 110 men boxers competed in ten weight classes in Abadan where three nations could get titles.
Iran had only one Olympian in boxing in Rio de Janeiro, their APB Champion Ehsan Rouzbahani (81kg) qualified for the Games. The strong and traditional boxing country has got plans for the future to develop the sport and show better results in the current Tokyo 2020 Olympic era.
Syria’s Hussin Al-Masri won the first gold medal of the tournament who competed also in the last two editions of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and several other main events. The Syrian Light Flyweight class (49kg) boxer was too strong for Pakistan’s Balochistan-based Mohibullah Bacha in the final of the category.
Iran’s Houman Taghanihoular moved up one weight class since his participation in the qualification events and shined at the Flyweight (52kg) in Abadan. The 22-year-old boxer, who competed in the 2015 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships, was too experienced for Iran’s Abadan-based Mohammad Shakhi in the final of the category.
Iran’s Davud Khedri won the Fajr Tournament one year ago and the Bantamweight class (56kg) boxer was able to get another title in Abadan. Russia’s lone gold medal in the event was delivered by Abdulla Radzhabov who defeated Tehran-based Bahram Shahbazi in the final of the Lightweight class (60kg).
Iran’s Hossein Khazri Bahri not only defeated his teammate national team member and AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event competitor Seyed Dana Esmaeilzadeh in the final of the Light Welterweight class (64kg) but he was received the Best Boxer Trophy of the Siege of Abadan Tournament.
Syria’s second gold medal was achieved by ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Ahmad Ghossoun who controlled all of the rounds against Iran’s Abadan-based Amin Mazouri in the final of the Welterweight class (69kg). The 20-year-old Syrian Welterweight class (69kg) boxer is aiming for a place in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Iran’s Siavash Omidi was silver medallist in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Subic Bay and since then he joined to their national elite team. The 21-year-old boxer moved back to the Middleweight class (75kg) and dominated all of his contests in Abadan. The Khuzestan-based Omidi dominated his final fight against his compatriot Ali Ahmadi in Abadan.
Syria’s three-time AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Alaaldin Ghossoun had a close final fight against Iran’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist 22-year-old Mobin Ghahrazeh at the Light Heavyweight class (81kg) but due his strength he could solve that issue in Abadan.
Iran’s Ali Dehghani had to do his very best to beat Syria’s multiple National Champion Manaf Asaad in the final of the Heavyweight class (91kg). Iran’s Iraj Azizpour trains in Tehran and met with his teammate Mazandaran’s Mohammad Ramezanpoor for the last gold medal of the Siege of Abadan Tournament. Azizpour worked better and won the title of the Super Heavyweight class (+91kg) winning Iran’s sixth gold medal in Abadan.

Winners in Siege of Abadan Tournament
49 kg: Hussin Al-Masri, Syria
52 kg: Houman Taghanihoular, Iran
56 kg: Davud Khedri, Iran
60 kg: Abdulla Radzhabov, Russia
64 kg: Hossein Khazri Bahri, Iran
69 kg: Ahmad Ghossoun, Syria
75 kg: Siavash Omidi, Iran
81 kg: Alaaldin Ghossoun, Syria
91 kg: Ali Dehghani, Iran
+91 kg: Iraj Azizpour, Iran