The review of the historical ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships
The first major competition of the year, the ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships finished in Tashkent, Uzbekistan which was held between January 20 and 30. The host country earned 16 titles in the championship while Mongolia, Japan and Tajikistan were also on the winners’ list.
Uzbekistan achieved four, Mongolia two while Japan one gold medal in the women’s part of the finals in Tashkent. The men’s part of the title contests delivered tough Uzbek dominancy with 12 gold medals and only Tajikistan could win one weight class.
The ASBC Asian Boxing Championships returned to Tashkent after five years of break when the Uzbekistan Boxing Federation hosted the elite championships on May 2017. Boxers who were born in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 were eligible to attend in the ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships.
The venue of the event was the Uzbekistan Universal Sport Complex where the Uzbekistan Elite National Championships was also held in December 2020. The Technical Delegate of the ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships was Mr. Viorel Sima of Romania and many non-Asian officials and referees work in the event to keep the neutrality in the historical competition.
Altogether 12 countries and 109 boxers attended in the 1st historical ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan following the travel restrictions and the pandemic stopped many nations to join to the event. Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan and host Uzbekistan were the participating nations in the difficult period which affects the whole continent in our present days.
The women’s boxers attended in the official 12 weight categories from the minimumweight (48kg) up to the heavyweight (+81kg). The men’s boxers were allowed to attend in the 13 categories from the minimumweight (48kg) up to the super heavyweight (+92kg). The Uzbekistan Boxing Federation will be the host also for the 2023 IBA Men’s Elite World Boxing Championships as one of their next big challenges.
Farzona Fozilova is the first ever ASBC Asian U22 Champion
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Farzona Fozilova had tough semi-final two days ago and she met with Tajikistan’s Sumaiya Kosimova in the first final of the ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships. Her Tajik opponent involved to the international boxing business in 2015 and she started the first round better. Kosimova proved strong developments in comparison to her last international events and surprised the 18-year-old Uzbek. Fozilova started the second round in different rhythm and caught the quick Tajik with some nice shots. The Uzbek teenager played her own game in the third round against Kosimova and became the first ever ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Champion.
Sabina Bobokulova is the second winner in Tashkent
Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova won the Fujairah 2019 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships and the Dubai 2021 ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships. The 18-year-old Uzbek is now the Elite National Champion in her homeland and advanced to the final of the flyweight (50kg) where she met with Sri Lanka’s Bothalage Uthpala Sewwandi. The Uzbek teenager landed a tough shot in the end of the first round but Sewwandi had one minute to recover after that punch. Bobokulova, who trains with Ulugbek Baratov in her club, shocked her Sri Lankan opponent and the referee stopped their contest in the second round.
Feruza Kazakova defeated Rinka Kinoshita in a top final
Japan’s AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Rinka Kinoshita expected a strong contest in the final against Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Feruza Kazakova. The Japanese southpaw is three years older than the Uzbek and she had more elite contests during her career. The 18-year-old Uzbek produced great run in the end of the first round and she found the best weapons against Kinoshita. The Japanese boxer was patient and started the second with a body shot but Kazakova had the right responses. The younger Uzbek gained the control of the exchanges in time to win the third gold medal for the host country in Tashkent.
Mongolia’s Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg turned back her final
The fourth Uzbek finalists was Nigina Uktamova who is the current AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion and the ASBC Asian Youth Champion. She moved down to the bantamweight (54kg) and tried to overcame Mongolia’s Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg in the attacks. Uktamova was smaller than her Mongolian opponent but she had the experiences from the recent three years how to handle these tactical jobs. The Mongolian increased her tempo in the second round and she had also a few nice shots in that period. Uktamova was exhausted in the third round when both of them gave in everything but Munguntsetseg had the stamina to turn back their final achieving the first gold medal for Mongolia.
Japan’s Olympic Champion Sena Irie won her next big event
Japan’s second female finalist was Tokyo Olympic Games winner Sena Irie who had a tough semi-final against Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Elite Champion Sitora Turdibekova two days ago. The Japanese star expected a hard battle against Mongolia’s No.1, Namuun Monkhor who moved down to the featherweight (57kg) after her participation at the 2021 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. Irie tried to keep the best distance against the Mongolian and landed impressive counter-shots in the first round of their contest. As all of the Mongolians, Monkhor stepped into the gas in the second round but Irie was a hard target for the 22-year-old boxer. Irie led 20:18 in all of the five scorecards after two rounds and she had the speed to control the last round as well against a top Mongolian.
Mongolia’s second gold medal was taken by Badmaarag Ganzorig
Japan’s Rinka Tanaka had some good youth results but she put herself into the spotlight in the 2021 Korotkov Memorial Tournament where she claimed a medal. The 22-year-old Japanese faced with Mongolia’s Badmaarag Ganzorig in the final of the lightweight (60kg) which delivered a top level of contest between the two youngsters. The Mongolian boxer used her height advantage well in the second and third rounds but Tanaka had excellent footwork to keep her safest distance. Tanaka landed nice hooks in the battle of the southpaw boxers but the Mongolian has done an impressive final round to win their final.
Uzbekistan’s next gold medal was achieved by Mokhinabonu Abdullayeva
Uzbekistan’s Mokhinabonu Abdullayeva achieved medals in the recent big events as in the Kielce 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. The 19-year-old Elite National Champion met for the title with Mongolia’s fourth finalist, Myagmarsuren Tsetsegdari at the light welterweight (63kg). Abdullayeva was patient in the first round and tried to use her longer hands against the Mongolian who won their U22 National Selection Tournament just before the Tashkent event. The Uzbek landed effective left-handed hooks in the second round and despite of Tsetsegdari’s excellent final efforts, Abdullayeva achieved the gold. Former two-times Asian Games winner Elshod Rasulov’s female squad earned four gold medals on home soil in Tashkent.
Djalilov won the first male final by KO
Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Djalilov turned to 18 only last month, when he claimed gold medal at the Elite National Championships and caused a top sensation in that competition. The Uzbek teenager faced with Japan’s Kazuma Aratake in the final of the men’s minimumweight (48kg) in Tashkent. Djalilov expected a hard battle against the Japanese Elite National Champion but he caught his opponent in the middle of the first round. The young Uzbek landed a lethal punch and knocked out his Japanese opponent which is very rare in that weight class.
Mamirjonov stopped his 18-year-old Tajik opponent
Yukov Prizes Youth Tournament winner Mukhammadkodir Mamirjonov was also born in 2003 as the first Uzbek winner, Asilbek Djalilov. He met in the final of the flyweight (51kg) with Tajikistan’s Akbarali Abdurakhmanzoda who also joined from the youth age group this January. The 18-year-old Tajik had strong footwork in their final but Mamirjonov landed shots from all possible distances and angles. The local favourite received a hook in the first seconds of the second round but responded with powerful shots. Following Mamirjonov’s actions, the Tajik boxer suffered a shoulder injury therefore the ringside doctor stopped the contest and confirmed the Uzbek talent’s RSCI success.
Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Muzaffarov defeated his Japanese rival in a tactical final
Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Muzaffarov won the gold medal at the Kielce 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and he marched to the final of the bantamweight (54kg) with top performance. The 19-year-old Uzbek opened the first round against Japan’s Elite National Champion Soushi Makino with nice combinations and felt the support of the home crowd. Muzaffarov maintained the fighting distance well in the opening round and Makino also tried to follow the rhythm of the final. The Japanese boxer performed better in the second round but Muzaffarov closed that period also with a nice right-left combination. The Uzbek hope was better in their chess game and delivered the host nation’s third male gold medal in Tashkent.
Dilshod Abdumurodov decided his final in the third round
The next male final was held at the featherweight (57kg) where another Japan vs. Uzbekistan battle took place. Shudai Harada started the final with jabs and tried to dictate the tempo against the 19-year-old Uzbek, Dilshod Abdumurodov. The local pride finished the first round with an effective combination but Harada tried to pressurize him in the beginning of the second. Harada knew that to beat the Uzbek boxer he must deliver his best ever performance during his career and had a brave attempt to make it happen. Abdumurodov started the third round in different tempo and shocked Harada with his high number of shots. Harada was competitive in the first and second rounds but Abdumurodov shocked him in the third and the referee confirmed the RSC victory of the Uzbek boxer.
Ruslan Abdullayev achieved Uzbekistan’s sixth-in-a-row male gold medal
Following Khurshidbek Rasuljonov’s walk over success at the lightweight (60kg), a top final was held at the light welterweight (63.5kg). Uzbekistan’s new Elite National Champion Ruslan Abdullayev used quick actions in the first round against Kyrgyzstan’s Mirzokhid Imamnazarov and dictated the tempo. The 20-year-old Kyrgyz boxer landed a strong uppercut in the end of the first round and he was a competitive rival for the new Uzbek star. Abdullayev made his best round in the whole ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships in the final minutes and achieved Uzbekistan’s sixth-in-a-row male gold medal.
Yuldashev dominated the welterweight from the first seconds
Javlonbek Yuldashev was gold medallist at the Puerto Princesa 2017 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships and achieved the title also in their Elite National Championships on December 2021. Yuldashev is now Uzbekistan’s welterweight (67kg) No.1 and demonstrated his power in the first round against Kyrgyzstan’s Sultan Asankul Uulu. The 21-year-old Uzbek landed tough body shots and caught the taller Kyrgyz boxer which guaranteed his advantage after three minutes of fight. Yuldashev, who defeated all of his impressive local opponents one and half month ago, worked hard to finish the final in the second round but Asankul Uulu survived the hard period.
Tojiyev defeated the Kyrgyz ASBC Asian Youth Champion at the 71kg
Kyrgyzstan’s Nuradin Rustambek Uulu achieved gold medal at the Ulaanbaatar 2019 ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships. The 20-year-old boxer met in the final with Uzbekistan’s Azizbek Tojiyev who earned the title in Fujairah as a junior. The Kyrgyz boxer opened the first minute in aggressive style but Tojiyev landed nice jabs with perfect timing and he looked quicker in the exchanges. Rustambek Uulu started the second round more aggressively and the Romanian referee counted the Uzbek boxer after a big shot. Their contest was a real many fight with a lot of punches and actions in both sides but Tojiyev was able to keep the triumph at the light middleweight (71kg) on home soil.
Abdupattayev is the king of the middleweight
Saidjamshid Jafarov is the defending ASBC Asian Elite Champion at the middleweight (75kg) and he is still in the U22 age group but the Uzbek coaches decided to give chance to Abdulaziz Abdupattayev in Tashkent. The Uzbek boxer ruled the middle of the ring against Tajikistan’s Abdumalik Boltayev who competed in the Dubai 2021 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. Abdupattayev controlled the first round while Boltayev returned in the second with better shots. The Tajik was too tired in the third round and his static boxing meant Abdupattayev earned the gold medal of the weight class.
Jasurbek Yuldashev won the next crucial final in Tashkent
Jasurbek Yuldashev is not the most experienced Uzbek light heavyweight (80kg) boxer but he advanced to the final of the event in Tashkent. He met in the final with Tajikistan’s Elite National Champion Nekruz Salimov and landed the first shot in the bout of the neighbouring boxers. The 22-year-old Tajik replied to the attacks and he was slightly better in the first round on the scorecards. Yuldashev changed his distance in time and he felt that he needs to do more in this final in the front of the home crowd. Both boxers gave in everything in the third round but Yuldashev’s hand was raised after the last gong in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan’s Timur Merjanov won his one-sided final
Uzbekistan’s Timur Merjanov achieved gold medal at the 2015 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships and at the ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships in the same year. He had a few relatively bad years in our sport but he is in highly developing stage once again and found that the new cruiserweight (86kg) is the best for him. The referee counted his opponent, Tajikistan’s Shakhboz Khaitov in the first round and he had all of the skills to control their final. Merjanov had longer hands than his smaller Tajik opponent and his jabs reached the target several times in their final bout. Merjanov won their one-sided final contest and proved that he could be Uzbekistan’s next strong weapon in the important year of 2022.
Tajikistan’s first U22 Champion is Davlat Boltayev
Tajikistan’s Davlat Boltayev eliminated his Uzbek opponent in the semi-finals of the heavyweight (92kg) and he was the main favourite in the final against Kyrgyzstan’s Rustam Yrysbek Uulu. The 22-year-old Tajik was quarter-finalist in the Asian & Oceanian Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event and defeated Asian Games winner Jakhon Kurbonov in their national events. Boltayev was a hard target for the Kyrgyz boxer and he knocked down Yrysbek Uulu in the middle of the second round. The Tajik National Champion was in different level than his Kyrgyz opponent and the referee stopped the bout in the third round.
Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Zokirov is the last winner of the event
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Champion and ASBC Asian Youth Champion Jakhongir Zokirov could be the next Bakhodir Jalolov at the super heavyweight (+92kg) but he had a tough and tall rival in the last final of the ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships. Tajikistan’s Mukhammad Abroridinov is three-years older than Zokirov and he had the physical conditions to keep the rhythm in the first round. The 18-year-old Uzbek, whose father Lazizbek competed at the Budapest 1997 AIBA World Boxing Championships, performed better in the second round and he landed several clear jabs. Zokirov overcame his Tajik rival in the attacks and won the 85th bout of the championships by unanimous decision.
List of the winners in the ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships
Women’s 48kg: Farzona Fozilova, Uzbekistan Women’s 50kg: Sabina Bobokulova, Uzbekistan Women’s 52kg: Feruza Kazakova, Uzbekistan
Women’s 54kg: Enkhjargal Munguntsetseg, Mongolia
Women’s 57kg: Sena Irie, Japan Women’s 60kg: Badmaarag Ganzorig, Mongolia Women’s 63kg: Mokhinabonu Abdullayeva, Uzbekistan Men’s 48kg: Asilbek Djalilov, Uzbekistan Men’s 51kg: Mukhammadkodir Mamirjonov, Uzbekistan Men’s 54kg: Shakhzod Muzaffarov, Uzbekistan Men’s 57kg: Dilshod Abdumurodov, Uzbekistan Men’s 60kg: Khurshidbek Rasuljonov, Uzbekistan Men’s 63.5kg: Ruslan Abdullayev, Uzbekistan Men’s 67kg: Javlonbek Yuldashev, Uzbekistan Men’s 71kg: Azizbek Tojiyev, Uzbekistan Men’s 75kg: Abdulaziz Abdupattayev, Uzbekistan Men’s 80kg: Jasurbek Yuldashev, Uzbekistan Men’s 86kg: Timur Merjanov, Uzbekistan
Men’s 92kg: Davlat Boltayev, Tajikistan Men’s +92kg: Jakhongir Zokirov, Uzbekistan
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