Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were dominant in the men’s semi-finals in Chiang Mai

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan dominated the men’s semi-final on the ninth competition day at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, host Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the 21 participating nations in the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.

Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay defeated Japan’s Kazuma Aratake in the finals of the 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Amman. The two stars met each other already in the semi-finals in Chiang Mai where Tashkenbay started the first round with a tough jab and he used his longer reach well enough against the quick Japanese. The World Champion Tashkenbay repeated his performance in Amman and he eliminated the 22-year-old Japanese boxer with dominance. This semi-final was Kazuma Aratake’s last amateur bout and he will turn to professional with an Asian bronze medal in his bag.

Philippines’ Marvin Tabamo returned to the level of the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships after five years of break therefore he was highly motivated from the preliminaries. The referee counted his opponent, Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Po Hao after the Filipino boxer’s big punches in the beginning of the bout. The 28-year-old Filipino finished the job in the second round and he will now meet Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov for the gold.

Kazakhstan’s World Champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan defeated his Thai opponent, Sarawut Sukthet in the final of the 2023 ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships and the two bantamweight (54kg) stars had to compete in the semi-finals today. The 23-year-old Thai had to go to the medical corner twice and after the first tactical round, and Sabyrkhan’s new rhythm decided the contest therefore the Kazakh defeated Sukthet once again on their repeat match.

Mongolia’s Lundaa Gantumur adopted the rhythm of his Kazakh opponent, Orazbek Assylkulov in the first semi-final of the featherweight (57kg). Assylkulov’s multiple jabs and pressure was uncomfortable for the younger Mongolian therefore the Kazakh advanced to his first ever Asian final. Uzbekistan’s 2019 World Champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov was better in-fighter than Philippines’ Ian Clark Bautista today and he marched to the finals in the second bout of the weight class.

The lightweight (60kg) delivered several surprises in this Asian Championships in Chiang Mai where Japan’s 21-year-old Sota Nakayama was slightly better in the exchanges than Kyrgyzstan’s Ryspek Bektenov on their opener. Nakayama won one of the tightest bouts of the day and he will now meet Tajikistan’s new sensation, Akmal Ubaidov, who eliminated Ukraine’s Paris Olympian Aider Abduraimov today.

Thailand’s Somchay Wongsuwan used his fantastic tempo to catch Kyrgyzstan’s last semi-finalist, Mirzokhid Imamnazarov in the opening round of the light welterweight (63.5kg). The 28-year-old Thai won the first round 10:9 in all of the judges’ scorecards due to his technical skills and 10 years of international routine. The Asian U22 silver medallist Imamnazarov stepped into the gas but he was not able to turn back their semi-final in North Thailand.

Kazakhstan’s Dulat Bekbauov marched into his second Asian final at the welterweight (67kg) following his success over Tajikistan’s Shukrat Salomatov using his speed and strength in this contest. The 29-year-old Kazakh was confident in all of the three rounds and he has the chance to win his first Asian title during his career. The defending Asian Champion of this weight, Thailand’s Bunjong Sinsiri will not be able to meet Bekbauov again due to his injury therefore the Kazakh’s final opponent is Mujibullo Tursunov of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan’s strong Khavasbek Asadullayev and Mongolia’s Otgonbaatar Byamba-Erdene had a manly fight in their light middleweight (71kg) semi-final. The Andizhan-based Uzbek southpaw was better in their fight and won the bout despite Byamba-Erdene’s great finish in the third round. Kazakhstan’s Ablaikhan Zhussupov had a successful return and he is now a finalist after beating Tajikistan’s Shakhobdzhon Shukurov in the second semi-final.

The two-time Asian Youth Champion Javokhir Ummataliyev is Uzbekistan’s youngest team member, he is 19, but has plenty of experiences in the recent four years. The Uzbek teenager shocked his opponent from Chinese Taipei, Liu Cheng En with heavy body shots and the referee confirmed his RSC victory in the third round. Kazakhstan’s Dias Molzhigitov also attends on his first Asian Elite Boxing Championships but he won the second middleweight (75kg) semi-final against Ukraine’s Pavlo Illiusha.

Uzbekistan’s lone Paris Olympian in their male team, Turabek Khabibullayev used his quick actions to catch Kazakhstan’s Yerassyl Zhakpekov in the first round of their light heavyweight (80kg) semi-final. The 22-year-old Kazakh returned to the contest in the second and he had impressive stamina but Khabibullayev’s technical advantage guaranteed his success. China’s Wang Jinxiang used his height advantage well against Cambodia’s Anvar Nasredinov and he will be the Uzbek boxer’s opponent in the final.

Tajikistan’s Akhmadjon Saidov achieved a bronze medal at the 2015 Junior World Boxing Championships and after a few years of break he returned from other martial arts to our sport. The 25-year-old Tajik was tough but he received punches from counter-attacking range from the taller Uzbek, Jasurbek Yuldashev. Kazakhstan’s Bekzad Nurdauletov also returned to the sport and he is now a finalist at the cruiserweight (86kg) after beating Ukraine’s Danylo Zhasan today.

Kazakhstan’s Asian Games bronze medallist Sagyndyk Togambay eliminated his main rival, Uzbekistan’s Madiyar Saidrakhimov in the quarter-finals of the heavyweight (92kg) and he demonstrated his power against China’s Liu Taimiao as well. The Chinese coaches abandoned the semi-final in the second round when Togambay landed nearly fifteen punches within 10 seconds therefore he will now meet for the gold Tajikistan’s Parviz Karimov.

One of the most anticipated contests in the men’s semi-finals was held between Uzbekistan’s multiple Asian Champion Jakhongir Zokirov and Kazakhstan’s Paris Olympian Aibek Oralbay who has just moved up to the super heavyweight (+92kg). The Kazakh had the height and weight disadvantages but his speed decided their amazing semi-final therefore he will box for the gold China’s Xinjiang-based Abudurexiti Remula.

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