The Uzbek Tigers advanced to the WSB Semi-finals

The Uzbek Tigers defeated the Russian Boxing Team 6-4 in overall and advanced to the Semi-finals in the WSB

The Uzbek Tigers proved amazing performance in the second competition day of the Quarter-finals in Ulyanovsk and defeated the Russian Boxing Team 3-2 once again and advanced to the Semi-finals in their first season in the World Series of Boxing. The total result between the two strong franchises was 6-4 to the Uzbek Tigers.
The Uzbek Tigers ranked No.2 in Group D and had to meet in the Play-off with the Russian Boxing Team which was perfect in the Group C winning all of their contests in the Regular Season. In spite of the Russian Boxing Team’s performance in the Group Stage the Uzbek Tigers became the lone franchise in Season VI which could defeat their rivals in two away matches and they can now prepare their Semi-final against Cuba Domadores.
After Hasanboy Dusmatov’s, Murodjon Akhmadaliev’s and Anvar Turapov’s first day success the winner of the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event Shakhobiddin Zoirov continued the winning path for the Uzbek Tigers in the second day of the Quarter-finals. Zoirov, who claimed silver in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, proved top performance against Russian Boxing Team’s Viacheslav Tashkarakov and won all of the rounds in their Flyweight class (52 kg) contest.
Uzbek Tigers’ Elnur Abduraimov claimed bronze medal in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships and qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games but the Uzbek Boxing Federation decided to send their APB boxer Hurshid Tojibaev to Brazil. Abduraimov won’t be there in the Olympics but he has been fighting in the World Series of Boxing with great motivation. The 21-year-old Uzbek Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer dominated the first round against Russia’s Dzhamal Badrutdinov and knocked down his opponent with his amazing combination which finished their bout very quickly.
Russian Boxing Team’s Albert Karibian won all of his contests in the World Series of Boxing and he delivered strong performance in the first part of the bout against Shakhram Giyasov which was enough for him to keep the victory on home soil. Giyasov’s performance and stamina was great in the fourth and fifth rounds but he could not turn back the Welterweight class (69 kg) bout. Russian Boxing Team’s next triumph was achieved by Imam Khataev who is new in the franchise and defeated former ASBC Asian Champion Shukhrat Abdullaev in the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) bout which was another narrow fight in the second match between the two top franchises.
After nine contests the Uzbek Tigers led 5-4 against the Russian Boxing Team but the final result depended on the performance of their Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg) boxers. Mirzohidjon Abdullaev competed in the last two editions of the Asian Games and used all of his experiences to find the weak points of his taller Russian opponent. Abdullaev was strong in mind and his fighting spirit delivered for the anticipated sixth success for the Uzbek Tigers which meant they advanced to the Semi-finals.

Russian Boxing Team vs. Uzbek Tigers 2-3:

52 kg: Viacheslav Tashkarakov RUS – Shakhobiddin Zoirov UZB 0-3
60 kg: Dzhamal Badrutdinov RUS – Elnur Abduraimov UZB TKO 2nd round wins for Abduraimov
69 kg: Albert Karibian RUS – Shakhram Giyasov UZB 3-0
81 kg: Imam Khataev RUS – Shukhrat Abdullaev UZB 3-0
+91 kg: Andrey Afonin RUS – Mirzohidjon Abdullaev UZB 0-3
Total Result after two matches: 4-6 to the Uzbek Tigers