Mekhron Shafiyev won the most difficult bout of the day in Chiang Mai

Tajikistan’s Mekhron Shafiyev won the tightest contest of the fourth 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.

Japan’s Kazuma Aratake, the silver medallist from the 2022 edition, met another southpaw boxer at the minimumweight (48kg) preliminary today, Malaysia’s Muhammad Rasdenal Bin Haikal. The smaller Japanese tried to reduce the fighting distance with quick actions against the returning Malaysian who had strong youth results in 2018. Aratake performed better in the second round and he finished the bout in the third but Rasdenal proved his future potential with nice technique.

A big battle was expected between two Central Asian youngsters, Kyrgyzstan’s Strandja Memorial winner Anvarzhan Khodzhiyev and Tajikistan’s No.1, Mekhron Shafiyev who both moved down to the minimumweight (48kg) for this event. Both boxers had similar technician style of boxing with impressive rhythm and in that big chess game, the busy Shafiyev was slightly better in the first round. The Kyrgyz boy increased the tempo in the second round but Shafiyev had the stamina to win their Round of 16 bout which was a final-level match.

Uzbekistan’s second boxer in action was their ASBC Asian U22 Champion Asilbek Jalilov who replaced the two-time Olympic Champion Hasanboy Dusmatov at the flyweight (51kg). The 21-year-old Uzbek won the first round against Mongolia’s Davaadorj Lkhagvadorj in four out of the five judges’ scorecards and he tried to keep his opponent on long. Jalilov had unpredictable movements and his footwork was the difference between them today therefore the Uzbek is the quarter-finalist now.

Kyrgyzstan’s Asian Youth silver medallist Bekzat Ergeshov had a similar tall opponent as first at the men’s flyweight (51kg), Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Po Hao in Chiang Mai. The 19-year-old Kyrgyz moved ahead but he tried to land his punches with better timing while Hsu trusted on his counter-punches. Ergeshov received hooks in the second round therefore the final verdict was depended on their performance in the third when Hsu had the better punches and he won the first bout for Chinese Taipei.

Ukraine’s Siyovush Mukhammadiyev and Philippines’ experienced Marvin Tabamo had a tactical first round at the men’s flyweight (51kg) and their defensive boxing skills were excellent. The Filipino found the best distance earlier than his Ukrainian opponent and he landed the better punches in the second as well therefore Tabamo had the massive advantage after six minutes to win their preliminary bout.

Mongolia’s Enkhsaikhan Oyun-Erdene has experience from the junior and youth competitions and he received the right for the first time to box in the elite national team. The 19-year-old Mongolian worked from longer distance against Ukraine’s Yelmir Nabiyev but he received some clear punches in the first round. The Mongolian teenager had better footwork and defence in the second round but Nabiyev had enough jabs to win their tight bout today.

Kyrgyzstan lost two youngsters from the competition therefore after Anvarzhan Khodzhiyev and Bekzat Ergeshov, their Asian U22 medallist Islam Torobayev tried to do better performance against a promising boxer from Bangladesh, Mohammed Utsob Ahmed. The South Asian opponent was competitive in the first round from counter-attacking range but Torobayev calmed down in the second and he eliminated Ahmed in this bantamweight (54kg) preliminary bout.

Vietnam’s Ha Thi Linh moved back to the light welterweight (63kg) after the Paris Olympic Games and she tried to keep her younger opponent, Chinese Taipei’s 21-year-old Chang Chia Hsun on long. The 10-years-older Vietnamese is member of the national team since 2014 and she knew how to handle her young rival today. Chang was brave, she had tough punches but Ha Thi Linh’s routine decided their contest which was a stoppage in the third round.

Uzbekistan’s Dilfuza Bekova returned to the elite national team after two years of break with hard job and she surprised Kazakhstan’s Aida Abikeyeva in the first round of their women’s light welterweight (63kg) contest. The 26-year-old Abikeyeva was more punctual in the second round therefore both had to give in everything in the third when the Kazakh was able to make a U-turn.

Thailand’s Paris Olympics bronze medallist Janjaem Suwannapheng had to meet Uzbekistan’s reigning ASBC Asian Champion Navbakhor Khamidova in one of the most anticipated contests of the session. Suwannapheng missed many of the training opportunities after the Olympic Games and she had the disadvantage on the scorecards after three minutes of fight. The final verdict was unanimous decision in the favour of the Uzbek who eliminated her main rival in Chiang Mai in an early final.

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