Uzbekistan’s top future hope Asadkhudja Muydinkhodjayev wins in the Margilan International Junior Tournament

Margilan is a small town in Uzbekistan but hosted a huge international junior tournament with the participation of 174 boxers. The host country claimed 13 gold medals while Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also delivered a final success in Margilan which was the first Asian international junior competition in 2017.
Young boxers who were born in 2001 and 2002 were eligible to compete in the Margilan International Junior Tournament. The competition was the first selection event for the Uzbek talents for the upcoming 2017 ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships which will be held in the Philippines later this year.
Uzbekistan’s first gold medal in the tournament was achieved by Schoolboys National Champion Avazjon Yuldashev who arrived to Margilan from Ferghana which is near to the host city. The 14-year-old talent defeated his teammate Musojon Isakov in the final of the 42kg weight class. Uzbekistan’s next gold medal was taken by Andizhan’s Bakhtiyor Gofurov who defeated Karakalpakstan’s Kaplanbay Toreboyev in the final of the 44kg.
Namangan’s Schoolboys National Tournament winner Bekzod Turdialiyev secured the next title in Margilan following his great performance in the final of the pinweight (46kg) against Kamoliddin Abdusattarov. Bukhara’s Amirbek Ibodullayev had also a narrow final against Bakhrom Olimjonov but he was able to solve that tactical job. Uzbekistan’s fifth gold medal was achieved by Andizhan’s Asadullokh Nematjonov in the final of the flyweight (50kg) against Bekzodbek Isadullayev while the main favourite Temurbek Dekhkonov lost his opening bout.
Uzbekistan’s Junior National Champion and Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup winner Asadkhudja Muydinkhodjayev was amazing in 2016 and after his international experiences he was able to win his next title in Margilan. The 15-year-old top Uzbek talent won the Amber Gloves Junior Tournament in Kaliningrad, Russia in December. The super talented Uzbek boxer defeated his teammate Sindor Bakhriddinov by large margin of difference in the final of the light bantamweight (52kg) in Margilan.
Kazakhstan’s lone finalist in the event was Darkhan Duisenbay who had to meet for the gold with Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Bozorboyev at the bantamweight (54kg). The Almaty-based young Kazakh talent had a tough quarter-final bout against Uzbekistan’s Farukhbek Khasanov but after that key contest he defeated the favourite Bozorboyev for the gold as well.
Olloberdi Ruzmatov delivered one of the biggest sensation of the Margilan Junior Tournament where he was able to beat Uzbekistan’s defending Junior National Champion Javlonbek Yuldashev in the final of the featherweight (57kg). The 15-year-old talent has been boxing in the city of Margilan and delivered a great success for the hosts.
One of the most exciting final was held between Uzbekistan’s Doniyorbek Mirzokhamdamov and Kyrgyzstan’s Umar Kubanychbek Uulu. The Uzbek boxer, who was in the Top8 in their recent Junior National Championships, had to do his very best against his Kyrgyz rival and won their final only by split decision.
Ferghana’s Uzbek Schoolboys National Champion 14-year-old Nurislom Ismoilov eliminated Andizhan’s Khabibullo Kholikov in a close semi-final but after that his strength was the difference in the final against Tashkent’s favourite Javokhir Rashidov. The referee stopped their contest in the third round and Ismoilov reached his career highlight in Margilan. The gold medal of the welterweight (66kg) was won by Ferghana’s Khurshidbek Abdubokiyev who defeated favourites such as Andizhan’s Rustambek Nasriddinov and Khorezm’s Asadbek Jumaniyazov in the final.
Margilan’s next gold medal was delivered by Komiljon Yusupov who was too strong for Andizhan’s Schoolboys National Tournament winner Jamshidbek Tojibaev in the final of the light middleweight (70kg). Uzbekistan’s next gold medal was delivered by Tashkent region’s Madiyar Redjepov at the middleweight (75kg) following his top performance against his teammate Uzbek Schoolboys National Champion Amantay Shalanov. Top talent Redjepov won all of his bouts before the final bell using his strength and lethal uppercuts.
Tashkent’s Jasur Yuldashev was only quarter-finalist in the 2016 Uzbek Junior National Championships but his development was amazing in the Margilan International Junior Tournament. The 15-year-old talent was incredible in the whole tournament and his efforts were enough to beat Karakalpakstan’s Alpamys Ayapbergenov in the semi-final and Khorezm’s Bekzod Kushnazarov in the final of the light heavyweight (80kg).
Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Junior Cup winner Akhmed Usupov competed well enough in the 2016 international competitions and arrived to Margilan as a secret favourite of the heavyweight (+80kg). The 16-year-old Kyrgyz talent won three tough contests in the road to the finals where he was able to beat Margilan’s younger talent Uzbek Schoolboys National Champion Mukhammadyunus Muminjonov who was born only in 2002. The top Uzbek junior boxer in his weight class Ismoiljon Atamuratov of Khorezm claimed only bronze medal in Margilan.

Winners in the Margilan International Junior Tournament
42kg: Avazjon Yuldashev, Uzbekistan, 2002
44kg: Bakhtiyor Gofurov, Uzbekistan, 2002
46kg: Bekzod Turdialiyev, Uzbekistan, 2002
48kg: Amirbek Ibodullayev, Uzbekistan, 2001
50kg: Asadullokh Nematjonov, Uzbekistan, 2001
52kg: Asadkhudja Muydinkhodjayev, Uzbekistan, 2001
54kg: Darkhan Duisenbay, Kazakhstan, 2001
57kg: Olloberdi Ruzmatov, Uzbekistan, 2002
60kg: Doniyorbek Mirzokhamdamov, Uzbekistan, 2001
63kg: Nurislom Ismoilov, Uzbekistan, 2002
66kg: Khurshidbek Abdubokiyev, Uzbekistan, 2001
70kg: Komiljon Yusupov, Uzbekistan, 2001
75kg: Madiyar Redjepov, Uzbekistan, 2001
80kg: Jasur Yuldashev, Uzbekistan, 2001
+80kg: Akhmed Usupov, Kyrgyzstan, 2001