Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev returned with a success in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament

The quarter-finals of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where the third competition day delivered serious contests in the first big Asian event in 2017. The host nation’s top boxer 2013 ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev returned to the boxing world and began his campaign with a success in Bishkek.
The competition will see more than 100 bouts in ten weight classes from the light flyweight (49kg) up to the super heavyweight (+91kg). Duisenkul Shopokov was the hero of the Soviet Union who died during the Great Patriotic War at the Battle of Moscow during World War II in December 1941. The tournament was named after him and the current competition will be the 41st edition in Bishkek where several strong nations such as Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, China and Kazakhstan have registered to take part in the Kyrgyzstan.
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 dominated his quarter-final bout at the flyweight (52kg) against Naryn-based Daykan Zhanybek Uulu.
Hasanboy Latibakhunov is the current Uzbek National Champion at the flyweight (52kg) but he could not repeat his top performance in the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament this time. The 19-year-old strong Uzbek suffered an unexpected loss to Kyrgyzstan’s Akylbek Esenbek Uulu in the third competition day.
Sirodjiddin Abdullaev won two big international competitions in 2016 and he is Kyrgyzstan’s next great hope in the new Olympic era. The 21-year-old bantamweight (56kg) boxer managed his first bout with a KO success and used his strength to win his quarter-final contest against Altynbek Ismanov who trains in Talas, Kyrgyzstan. Abdullaev’s punches were too strong for his opponent and the referee stopped their contest in the third round.
Uzbekistan’s 19-year-old Ulugbek Komilov surprisingly won their National Elite Championships last November and received the right to represent his country in the international level. The Uzbek talent had to meet with Kyrgyzstan’s hope Almambet Alibekov who has been competing in the international events since 2011. The final verdict was split decision to Komilov who did a bit more than his Kyrgyz rival on Day3.
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov moved up to the lightweight (60kg) in the recent weeks and tried to do his very best in the quarter-finals stage of the event. The 25-year-old experienced boxer controlled his fight against his teammate Argen Kadyrbek Uulu and secured his place in the last four.
Kyrgyzstan’s defending National Champion at the light welterweight (64kg) is Daniyar Damirdin Uulu who had to meet in the quarter-final with an experienced athlete Nurlan Kobashev. Damirdin Uulu was not enough shape this time and his Kyrgyz rival was able to control the best fighting distance in their contest. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Kobashev who returned to the boxing world with such a great success.
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 he is chasing the Olympic Games. The Kyrgyz veteran had to do his very best against Kazakhstan’s Stanislav Tsoy who was more than competitive rival. Sakenov turned up the heat in the third round and his experiences were enough to beat his technician Kazakh rival in the quarter-final of the category.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist 19-year-old Kozimbek Mardonov is one of the favourite of the middleweight (75kg) who controlled his quarter-final against China’s Xinjiang-based Toktuchong Molla. The Uzbek teenager proved strong performance and will now meet for the final with Kyrgyzstan’s veteran Azamat Kanybek Uulu in the semi-final tomorrow.
Kyrgyzstan’s lone Rio 2016 Olmypian boxer Erkin Adylbek Uulu is one of the main gold medal contender of the light heavyweight (81kg) who bowed out his teammate Bektur Alymbek Uulu from the way. The 25-year-old Kyrgyz boxer’s next opponent will be Uzbekistan’s promising Khasankhon Baratov who stopped Kyrgyzstan’s Bayaman Ilyasov in another quarter-final contest.