The Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament began in Bishkek

The first big men’s elite boxing event in 2017 in our Asian continent is the 41st edition of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament in the Bishkek Sport Palace in Kyrgyzstan which began with its first competition day. Altogether 112 boxers were there in the general weigh-in in Bishkek and some of the top athletes began the competition with great performance.
The competition will see more than 100 bouts in ten weight classes from the light flyweight (49kg) up to the super heavyweight (+91kg). Duisenkul Shopokov was the hero of the Soviet Union who died during the Great Patriotic War at the Battle of Moscow during World War II in December 1941. The tournament was named after him and the current competition will be the 41st edition in Bishkek where several strong nations such as Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, China and Kazakhstan have registered to take part in the Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan’s 21-year-old Almambet Alibekov has been competing in the international level since 2011 when he was a junior boxer. The young talent moved up to the lightweight (60kg) and delivered a small surprise on Day1 when he was able to beat Kazakhstan’s Aydar Imangaliyev. The ringside doctor stopped their contest in the second round when Imangaliyev has injured after Alibekov’s blows.
Kyrgyzstan’s FISU University World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Temirlan Osmonov is one of the most promising lightweight (60kg) boxer in the Central Asian region. The host nation’s pride was incredible against such a strong rival as Kazakhstan’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist 19-year-old Alimzhan Beskempir.
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist and AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Ermek Sakenov moved up to the welterweight (69kg) in the recent months and he is still dreaming about an Olympic Games. The host nation’s veteran star dominated his opening bout against Kazakhstan’s Nurzhigit Bizhanov and won the bout by unanimous decision.
China’s two-time Olympian Maimaitituersun Qiong lives and trains in the Xinjiang region who returned to the sport after poor years. The 29-year-old welterweight (69kg) boxer did his very best and worked from longer distance against Kyrgyzstan’s former AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Adilet Batyraliev on Day1 and advanced to the next stage of the Shopokov Memorial Tournament.
Kyrgyzstan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships competitor Erkin Adylbek Uulu was the country’s flag bearer in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where he was the Central Asian nation’s lone boxer. The 25-year-old light heavyweight (81kg) boxer delivered superb performance against Kazakhstan’s Nurzhan Zhakan and reached the Top8 in Bishkek.
Uzbekistan’s Sardorbek Yormukhammedov had a few experiences from the World Series of Boxing and claimed bronze medal in their last edition of the National Championships in November. The 23-year-old boxer launched serious punches against Kyrgyzstan’s Zhaksylyk Kuzaliyev therefore the host nation’s ringside abandoned their contest.
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sergei Parenko also opened his participation in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament in Bishkek. The 27-year-old heavyweight (91kg) boxer had enough strong punches to beat Kazakhstan’s Youth National Champion 20-year-old Dinislam Bibolat on Day1.
Kyrgyzstan had problems at the super heavyweight (+91kg) in the recent years but might be their National Champion Stalbek Karasartov will be solving their issue in the new Olympic cycle. The host nation’s boxer had to meet with his compatriot 18-year-old Tashtemir Ryskulov and following his great punches the referee confirmed his RSC success in the first round of their contest.