21 Asian boxers advanced to the quarter-finals in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships
The fifth competition day was held in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in the Sibur Arena in St. Petersburg. After 59 Asian victories in St. Petersburg our continent’s young talents were able to 12 bouts on Day6 which means 21 Asians from 8 countries will be fighting for the guaranteed medals in the quarter-finals.
Altogether 90 Asian boxers from 16 countries are taking part in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in St. Petersburg. Afghanistan, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand and Uzbekistan have sent teams to the new edition of the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships from our continent.
Bantamweight class (56kg):
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shunkor Abdurasulov tried to dominate the first round against Germany’s Andreas Jager who is also an experienced boxer in the international level. The 18-year-old Uzbek was aggressive and took the lead after the first round and proved today he is better than his German opponent. Abdurasulov is in better form than in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships and could be medallist in St. Petersburg.
Kyrgyzstan’s Youth National Champion Ramazan Suranchiyev was quicker than Hungary’s Kristof Mislai in the first round and met with China’s Zeng Jianming as second in St. Petersburg. The Chinese boxer defeated two tough rivals and had the same style as Suranchiyev therefore their bout was a spectacular one with a lot of attacks. Suranchiyev’s defence was world class in the second round but the Chinese boxer found the best attacking positions in time to eliminate his tough Kyrgyz rival.
Kazakhstan’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Samatali Toltayev is a big talent in the sport who celebrated his 17th birthday with a great triumph over Venezuela’s Jhoinner Alejandro Bonilla which means he is already in the Top8 in St. Petersburg. The Venezuelan was not an easy opponent for Toltayev but the young Kazakh talent was able to find his weak points today.
Lightweight class (60kg):
Uzbekistan’s Bilolbek Mirzarakhimov won the gold medal in the last edition of the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships, ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships and also in the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships therefore his target in St. Petersburg is clear. Following his victory over Kazakhstan’s Sanatali Toltayev he met with Armenia’s Narek Hovhannisyan and he was able to advance to the quarter-finals in St. Petersburg.
Japan’s multiple National Champion in various age groups Reo Saito proved top performance in the first preliminary round of the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and continued his amazing winning path against Finland’s Klichko Brothers Youth Tournament silver medallist Asseme Nouali. The 18-year-old Japanese talent attacked continuously and his high number of punches was reached also the target therefore the referee confirmed his TKO success in the second round.
India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Ankush Dahiya is among the best Asian lightweight (60kg) boxers who proved his big talent against another top boxer Dominican Republic’s Euri Cedeno in the last 16 today. The Indian boxer met with similar style and tactic today but he was able to change his rhythm in time to win his difficult bout in St. Petersburg.
Light Welterweight class (64kg):
Uzbekistan’s Bekhruz Rakhmonov received the right to box in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships only in the final minutes when he replaced Abu Nuranov and Ziyodbek Urolov. The 18-year-old Uzbek eliminated a gold medal contender Azerbaijan’s Bakhtiyar Gazibayov and Moldova’s Egor Bejenaru but he lost his third bout to Dominican Republic’s AMBC American Confederation Youth Champion Rohan Polanco.
India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Ashish Kulhriya had a close first contest in St. Petersburg and he had another difficult contest in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in the preliminaries. Ashish, who was named as the Best Boxer of the last Indian Youth National Championships, exceeded the expectations in his third bout in St. Petersburg and surprisingly defeated Georgia’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Champion Eskerkhan Madiev.
Welterweight class (69kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s Aybek Akylbek Uulu was quarter-finalist in the last edition of the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships in St. Petersburg 14 months ago and after two triumphs he was focused to reach the quarter-finals in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. The 17-year-old Kyrgyz talent met with Chinese Taipei’s Wu Yen Yu in the last 16 and tried to use his longer hands in the whole bout. Akylbek Uulu knocked down Wu in the last round and advanced to the quarter-finals once again winning the bout by large margin of difference.
Kazakhstan’s Klichko Brothers Youth Tournament winner Sadriddin Akhmedov and Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Ulugbek Sobirov had to meet each other already in the 1ast 16 which was an early final in the welterweight (69kg). The 18-year-old Kazakh future star dictated the tempo in the bout against the counter-attacking Uzbek talent. Akhmedov’s stamina was amazing and finally he was able to do revenge due his previous loss to Sobirov and advanced to the quarter-finals.
Middleweight class (75kg):
Kazakhstan’s Bek Nurmaganbet, who began boxing at the age of 10, had enough experiences to be a favourite in the middleweight (75kg). After two successful contests he had to meet with Ukraine’s Dmytro Rybalko who eliminated Russia’s Nikita Voronov in St. Petersburg in the last round. The 18-year-old Kazakh boxer used his height advantage to keep the control against such a strong Ukrainian rival. Nurmaganbet was enough fresh in the final round and won their key contest in the championships.
Tajikistan’s AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Akhmadjon Saidov is their last remained boxer who met in the last 16 with United States’ Ukrainian-descent Nikita Ababiy. Saidov, who claimed bronze medal in the Zhetysu Youth Cup in Kazakhstan last month, launched amazing punches in the second round and his powerful punches raised his confidence. Finally the US boxer’s hand was raised after the last gong but Saidov proved he is a top talent in the weight class.
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shokhrukhbek Rustamov had an Asian opponent in the last 16 Chinese Taipei’s Kan Chia Wei who is their elite No.1 also in this weight class. Kan is famous of his strong punches and trusted on his powerful jabs but Rustamov was a hard target and also a tough athlete. The 18-year-old Uzbek controlled most of the rounds and advanced to the last eight in St. Petersburg.
Super Heavyweight class (+91kg):
Kazakhstan’s Youth National Champion Ayboldy Daurenuly was not the favourite against Russia’s EUBC European Youth Champion and EUBC European Junior Champion Vladislav Muravin but the Central Asian talent exceeded the expectations. The 18-year-old Kazakh boxer, who had only 30 bouts during his career, found the best counter-attacking positions against Muravin and won their top level bout in St. Petersburg.