Kazakhstan’s Yermakhan Zhakpekov won the bout of the day in the semi-finals of the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships

The qualification event in our continent the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships continued with the men’s semi-finals in Bangkok. Kazakhstan’s Children of Asia Games winner Yermakhan Zhakpekov defeated his main Uzbek rival Jakhongir Rakhmonov today and advanced to the final of the welterweight (69kg).
Altogether 69 women and 139 men boxers from record number of 30 countries are taking part for the medals in the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships. In the men’s part of the competition the following nations secured at least one final place in Bangkok:
– Kazakhstan: 7 men finalists
– Thailand, Uzbekistan: 5 men finalists
– India, Philippines, Turkmenistan: 1 men finalist
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan did amazing job in the previous rounds in Bangkok and tried to get the control in the first round quickly against his Chinese rival, Zhao Renxue. The Kazakh light flyweight (49kg) boxer tried to catch his quick Chinese opponent which made the first round so hectic. Sabyrkhan, who claimed gold medal in the strong Bornemissza Youth Memorial Tournament in Hungary last month, launched lethal punches in the second round and the referee confirmed his RSC success.
Thailand’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Sarawut Sukthet moved more on feet in the semi-final of the flyweight (52kg) than his opponent from Jordan, Mohammad Al-Gharaghir. The 17-year-old Thai talent, who trains in Phitsanulok, was patient in their contest and used his opponent’s faults to land good punches in their contest. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Sukthet who advanced to the gold medal contest of the championship.
Philippines’ Children of Asia Games winner Criztian Pitt Laurente eliminated Japan’s Reo Nishioka, Afghanistan’s Hasibullah Ahmadi and Cambodia’s Non Bang in the previous rounds in Bangkok. The Filipino southpaw used his best fighting distance in the first round against Thailand’s Noppharat Thakhui. Pitt Laurente, who was quarter-finalist in the last edition at the bantamweight (56kg), was a hard target for the younger Thai boxer and the Filipino advanced to the final of the category.
Thailand’s Boxam Youth Tournament winner Atichai Phoemsap eliminated Afghanistan’s Russian-based Saiel Amirmohamad in the first preliminary round and he did world class performance in his next contest against Kazakhstan’s Rakhat Seitzhan. The Thai lightweight (60kg) boxer began the bout impressively using his sensational footwork in the first round when he faced with Japan’s Ryunosuke Tsutsumi. Thailand’s top youth boxer enjoyed their semi-final contest and his energetic boxing delivered for him a place in the final.
Japan’s defending ASBC Asian Junior Champion Sora Tanaka had a RSC success against China’s Liu Yuhao and another quick victory over Chinese Taipei’s Hung Yung Sheng in Bangkok. The Japanese light welterweight (64kg) talent, who was the Best Boxer in the Puerto Princesa 2017 ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships, had a competitive rival in the semi-final when he met with Turkmenistan’s two-time Youth National Champion Saparmyrat Odayev. Tanaka was not enough shape in the first round but he was able to increase his number of attacks in the second period but Odayev used his effective counter-attacks. Turkmenistan’s youth No.1 was much better from longer distance and eliminated his top Japanese rival winning the bout by unanimous decision.
A top semi-final was held between Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Jakhongir Rakhmonov and Kazakhstan’s Children of Asia Games winner Yermakhan Zhakpekov in the semi-final of the welterweight (69kg). The 18-year-old Kazakh talent landed better punches in the second round following their first tactical period. Rakhmonov performed well in the third round but his efforts were not enough to turn back their narrow semi-final and Zhakpekov can prepared to his final in Bangkok.
Thailand’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Weerapon Jongjoho moved up two weight classes in the recent months and he is fighting at the middleweight (75kg) now. The 17-year-old Thai talent eliminated Iran’s Akbar Mardomi Mulan in the quarter-final and delivered his best performance against Uzbekistan’s Navo Tamazov in the last four. The Uzbek boxer was not enough patient in their contest and Jongjoho’s enthusiasm delivered for him a place in the final.
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Sagyndyk Togambay defeated United Arab Emirates’ Nawaf Al-Riyami RSC in the quarter-final. The Kazakh light heavyweight (81kg) boxer had to meet with China’s Halimulati Rehemandu in the semi-final but he was too strong for his opponent. Togambay was confident, energetic and caught his Chinese rival with his jabs in the second and third rounds. The referee counted Rehemandu in the third round therefore Togambay’s hand was raised after the final gong.
Kazakhstan’s Children of Asia Games winner Aibek Oralbay was more experienced than his semi-final rival at the heavyweight (91kg), Iran’s Hossein Shadman Khollari. The 18-year-old Kazakh boxer started slowly but from the second minute he felt how he can beat his Iranian rival in Bangkok. The Kazakh boxer increased his tempo in the second round and caught his rival in that period. The referee counted the Iranian boxer three-times and after that confirmed Oralbay’s RSC victory.
Kazakhstan’s Damir Toybay was gold medallist in the 2016 Children of Asia Games as many of his teammates. Kazakhstan’s super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer had to meet with Iran’s Ali Sepehr who competed in the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Puerto Princesa and rapidly developed in the recent months. Toybay, who claimed silver medal in the Bornemissza Youth Memorial Tournament, launched single punches in the first round when Sepehr was competitive against him. Toybay had a tough right-handed body and left-handed hook combination in the third round and he was able to beat his well-developed Iranian rival in Bangkok.