World Olympic Qualification Event – Day3 Report

Chinese Taipei’s amazing day in the World Olympic Qualification Event in Baku

The World Olympic Qualification Event continued with the third competition day in Baku, Azerbaijan where four sessions were held this Saturday. Four weight classes fought in the third preliminary day in Baku where Chinese Taipei was Asia’s hero in the event. After 28 Asian triumphs in the first two days the continent’s hopes delivered 11 victories in the third competition day.

Light Flyweight class (49 kg):

Chinese Taipei’s Tu Po Wei competed in the 2013 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships and also in the 2014 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships but as an 18-year-old talent he was not the favourite against Dominican Republic’s Toronto 2015 Panamerican Games bronze medallist Victor Daniel Santillan. Tu Po Wei did not have too many elite contests yet but he moved in different rhythm as in Qian’an and surprisingly he could beat his Central American rival in Baku.
Thailand’s London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist Kaeo Pongprayoon returned to the sport after four years of break therefore he was not enough confident in the first round against Iraq’s Hasan Ali Shakir Al-Kaabi. The Thai veteran had great experiences to find his best tactic and turned back their contest. Pongprayoon won the contest by unanimous decision and advanced to the last 16 in Baku.

Lightweight class (60 kg):

Tajikistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist and two-time Olympian Anvar Yunusov opened with a great success over Lithuania’s Edgaras Skurdelis in Baku and continued his winning path in the World Olympic Qualification Event. Tajikistan’s best boxer knocked down Pakistan’s Ahmed Ali in the second round and dominated all parts of their contest in the afternoon session. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Yunusov who will now meet with Italy’s former AIBA World Champion Domenico Valentino.
China’s Shan Jun was semi-finalist in the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event in Qian’an but lost his Box-off and could not qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games yet. The 22-year-old Chinese WSB boxer controlled all of the rounds against a strong European rival Croatia’s Stipan Prtenjaca and advanced to the last 16 in the category where his next opponent will be Trinidad & Tobago’s Michael Alexander.
Qatar’s German-descent Hakan Erseker competed in the AIBA Pro Boxing but he was not the favourite against Thailand’s native talent Pachanya Longchin in Baku. The Qatari boxer surprised Longchin in the first round and his great final minutes were enough to beat his Thai opponent in Baku. Erseker moved up to the Lightweight class (60 kg) just before the start of the competition and it was a success for him.
Turkmenistan’s Hursand Imankuliyev joined to the elite age group only last year but he reached the level of the international contests very quickly. The 20-year-old talent exceeded the previous expectations and defeated Norway’s Boxam Tournament silver medallist Angelo Bernhard Torres in his second contest. He won all of the rounds against such a strong European rival in Baku and advanced to the next stage of the event.
Chinese Taipei’s Lai Chu En won contests in his recent international competitions but he was not the favourite against Puerto Rico’s AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Jose Rosario in Baku. His Central American rival was seeded as No.2 in the Lightweight class (60 kg) but Chinese Taipei’s young hero was able to found the best weapon against him. Lai won all of the rounds and has done a great surprise in the World Olympic Qualification Event.

Welterweight class (69 kg):

Tajikistan’s Bakhtiyor Mirzomukhammad was gold medallist at the Asian University Boxing Championships in Dushanbe last month and received the right to box in his first qualification event in Baku. The 24-year-old Tajik boxer was in different level than Slovenia’s two-time National Champion Danijel Babic in his debuting contest in the event. Mirzomukhammad knocked down his Slovenian rival and won their bout by TKO in the third round. Tajikistan’s new national team member will be boxing with Germany’s Abass Baraou who eliminated Philippines’ Seed No.1 Eumir Felix Marcial.
Afghanistan’s South Asian Games silver medallist Allah Dad Rahimi is member of the national team since 2012 who received the right to box once again in Baku. The 26-year-old boxer shocked Japan’s Ryuji Sato with his effective punches in the first round and he was able to keep the same level until the final gong. Rahimi’s triumph was Afghanistan’s first success in the World Olympic Qualification Event.

Heavyweight class (91 kg):

Iran’s former ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Salar Gholami replaced Reza Moradkhani in the national team and opened with a surprise success over Hungary’s Bocskai Memorial Tournament winner Gergo Savoly. The Iranian boxer controlled the first two rounds and he had enough power to keep his advantage in the final three minutes. The Iranian boxer advanced to the last 16 and will now meet with Ukraine’s Dmytro Lisovyi who eliminated Tajikistan’s Seed No.4 Jakhon Qurbonov.
South Korea’s Kim Hyeong Kyu was gold medallist at the 2011 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships at the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg). The 24-year-old Korean moved up one category in the recent months but he was enough quick to control his bout against Czech Republic’s Marek Vanecek. Kim had strong jabs in the first round and dominated their contest which means the South Korean will be boxing with Morocco’s WSB boxer Abdeldjalil Abouhamada.