Uzbekistan’s Kozimbek Mardonov is the best boxer in the Duisenkul Shopokov Tournament in Bishkek
The 41st edition of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament finished in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where the finals were held in the fifth and last competition day. Kyrgyzstan claimed five gold medals, Uzbekistan and China both won two weight classes while Kazakhstan achieved one title in the Shopokov Memorial Tournament.
One of the best final was held between China’s Maimaitituersun Qiong and Kyrgyzstan’s Ermek Sakenov and the battle of the veterans were won by the two-time Olympian Chinese boxer. The Best Boxer Trophy of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament was achieved by Uzbekistan’s Kozimbek Mardonov who won the middleweight (75kg).
Light flyweight (49kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s defending National Champion in the light flyweight (49kg) Mirlan Turkbay Uulu met with his super talented teammate 18-year-old Syrgak Dzhanseitov in the semi-final of the lowest weight class. The ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist teenager was a competitive rival for Turkbay Uulu who needed to do his very best to beat Dzhanseitov in the Shopokov Memorial Tournament. Turkbay Uulu had to meet with another National Champion Rakhmankul Avatov in the final of the event which was the repeat match of the last edition of the Kyrgyz National Championships. Turkbay Uulu defeated Avatov two months ago and he was able to repeat that performance in the Shopokov Memorial Tournament once again.
Flyweight (52kg):
The local hero Azat Usenaliev was gold medallist in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan but he could not qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Kyrgyzstan’s top boxer returned to the ring and he dominated his quarter-final bout at the flyweight (52kg) against Naryn-based Daykan Zhanybek Uulu. Usenaliev was enough technician to beat Kazakhstan’s Bagdat Tolybaev in the semi-final which was his most difficult contest in Bishkek. Usenaliev met for the gold medal with Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Turat Osmonov who is his main rival in Kyrgyzstan following his opponent moved up to the flyweight (52kg). Usenaliev was still enough fresh and energetic to beat his younger rival in the final of the Shopokov Memorial Tournament.
Bantamweight (56kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s next future hope 21-year-old Sirodjiddin Abdullaev won two big international competitions in 2016 and arrived to the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament as favourite of bantamweight (56kg). The talented boxer had hard job against his teammate Kanatbek Abduvakhob Uulu in the semi-final but he was able to solve that tactical job as well and met for the gold with Mirbek Sherov which bout was the repeat match of the final of the last edition of the Kyrgyz National Championships. Abdullaev lost to Sherov two months ago but he was able to do revenge in the final of the Shopokov Memorial Tournament.
Lightweight (60kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s another top boxer ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov moved up to the lightweight (60kg) in the recent weeks and delivered strong performance in Bishkek. The 25-year-old experienced boxer controlled his fight against his teammate Argen Kadyrbek Uulu in the quarter-final and he was too experienced also for 20-year-old Munarbek Seyitbek Uulu in the last four as well. His final opponent was Kyrgyzstan’s Erzhan Turgunbekov who surprisingly eliminated the current Uzbek National Champion 19-year-old Ulugbek Komilov. Omurbek Malabekov launched more effective punches in the final and his strength decided their close contest.
Light welterweight (64kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s Talas-region based experienced athlete Nurlan Kobashev returned to the boxing world with such a great success advancing to the final in Bishkek where he won also the title of his weight class. The Kyrgyz boxer defeated Ukraine’s Bohdan Golovach in the second semi-final of the category and met with China’s Xinjiang-based Abduraim Maimaiti who delivered one of the main sensation in the semi-finals during the fourth competition day when he eliminated Uzbekistan’s former AIBA Junior World Champion Aliyor Noraliyev. Kobashev had a well-built tactic against the Chinese boxer which worked well in their contest and celebrated his gold medal after the final bout.
Welterweight (69kg):
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 trying to adopt the level of the punches. The Kyrgyz veteran had to do his very best against Kazakhstan’s Stanislav Tsoy in the quarter-final and after that bout he did much better in the last four against his teammate Taalaybek Aytbek Uulu. The 29-year-old Kyrgyz boxer had to meet with an experienced fighter China’s two-time Olympian Maimaitituersun Qiong who defeated Uzbekistan’s Odiljon Aslonov in the semi-final. The Chinese boxer moved back before his counter-attacks and his tactic worked better against Sakenov today which meant Qiong returned to the boxing world with a success.
Middleweight (75kg):
Uzbekistan’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympian and AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist 19-year-old Kozimbek Mardonov was one of the favourite of the middleweight (75kg) and he was able to realize his chances in Bishkek. The Uzbek teenager controlled his quarter-final against China’s Xinjiang-based Molla Tuohetiqiong and following that he defeated Kyrgyzstan’s veteran Azamat Kanybek Uulu in a narrow bout. Uzbekistan’s young pride was too strong for the gold for Kyrgyzstan’s Ilyaz Akmataliyev who defeated the current Kyrgyz National Champion Ykhtyiar Shabdanbayev in the previous round.
Light heavyweight (81kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s lone Rio 2016 Olympian boxer Erkin Adylbek Uulu was the main gold medal contender of the light heavyweight (81kg) but in the final he was not able to repeat his top performance as in the road to the last bout. He eliminated Uzbekistan’s promising Khasankhon Baratov in the last four and met for the title with Kazakhstan’s Taraz-based Murat Baygaziyev. His Kazakh opponent knew Adylbek Uulu and found the weak points in their contest which was a top level fight in the Shopokov Memorial Tournament.
Heavyweight (91kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sergei Parenko is also the current National Champion of the host nation who worked well in the semi-finals against Kazakhstan’s former AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships competitor Arbek Abduganiyev. The 27-year-old Kyrgyz boxer was not enough strict against Uzbekistan’s National Championships bronze medallist Sardorbek Yormukhammedov in the title bout and suffered a loss to his neighboring rival. The 23-year-old Uzbek boxer reached his career highlight with his gold medal in the Shopokov Memorial tournament.
Super heavyweight (+91kg):
Uzbekistan’s National Championships bronze medallist Rustamjon Ismoilov delivered great performance against China’s Xinjiang-based Aihemati Maimaiti and secured his place in the final of the highest weight class. The Uzbek boxer had to meet in the final with China’s Abulaiti Abudusemaiti who had clear punches against Kyrgyzstan’s Stalbek Karasartov in their semi-final. Abudusemaiti had more experiences than his Uzbek rival and finally his hand was raised after the final bell.