AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships – Day5

Further twenty Asian boxers advanced to the Top8 in St. Petersburg
The fifth competition day of the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships continued with the biggest program in St. Petersburg, Russia where 72 bouts have been held. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Thailand, India, Japan, Kyrgyzstan and China proved they have got talents in our sport and their boxers need only one further step to get a medal in the global event.

Pinweight class (46 kg)
Kazakhstan’s 15-year-old Aibek Dossanov was gold medallist at the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Tashkent and following his big battle against Hungary’s Alex Baki he defeated Azerbaijan’s Kenan Aliyev as well. Asia’s second triumph was delivered by Thailand’s new sensation Thitisan Panmod who was too strong for Kyrgyzstan’s Rustam Muratov in the second preliminary round.

Light Flyweight class (48 kg)
Uzbekistan’s defending ASBC Asian Junior Champion Halimbek Utegenov was in different level than Moldova’s Victor Vacula and following his third knock downs the referee stopped their unequal battle in St. Petersburg. Japan’s Takumi Tamura could not win a medal at the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Tashkent but his skills were enough to eliminated Ukraine’s EUBC European Junior Champion Artem Demianenko. Kyrgyzstan’s Temirlan Nurlan Uulu triumphed over Australia’s Joshua Fitzpatrick in a narrow bout and secured his place in the last eight. Thailand’s Songsaeng Phoyaem defeated a strong European boxer Wales’ John Paul Wilson and secured Asia’s fourth quarter-final place in the weight class.

Light Bantamweight class (52 kg)
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Anarbek Zhaparov won two rounds against Romania’s Cosmin Adrian Dima and his efforts were enough to beat the European hope. Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Murodjon Aliyev had to meet another tough Asian athlete Philippines’ Cristian Pitt Laurente but he should have not been needed to do his very best to advance to the quarter-finals. Kazakhstan’s Junior National Champion Samatali Toltayev had an early final against Ireland’s junior No.1 Aaron McKenna and surprisingly the Central Asian boxer was able to beat his star rival in St. Petersburg.

Lightweight class (60 kg)
Kyrgyzstan’s Meirambek Kaykiyev could not win a bout in the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Tashkent but he was able to defeat his second opponent in the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships in St. Petersburg. The 16-year-old boxer trains in the small Dzhalal-Abad region in Kyrgyzstan, but following his triumph over Romania’s Marian Viorel Ficiu he is quarter-finalist in the global event.

Light Welterweight class (63 kg)
Kazakhstan’s Aibol Zhambirbay eliminated a favourite in the previous round in St. Petersburg and following that he was confident against Morocco’s Tarik Zaatout. The 16-year-old Kazakh boxer stopped his North African opponent and could save power for the later actions in the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships. Uzbekistan’s current ASBC Asian Junior Champion Timur Merzhanov advanced also to the quarter-finals following his triumph over Germany’s Richard Meinecke. Merzhanov’s elder brother secured bronze in the last edition of the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships while Timur needs only one further successful step to repeat his performance in St. Petersburg.

Welterweight class (66 kg)
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Aldiyar Tursynali was the first Asian boxer in the category who was able to beat an opponent on Day 5. The 16-year-old Kazakh boxer was too strong for Czech Republic’s Jan Gazdik while Kyrgyzstan’s Aibek Akylbek Uulu needed to do his very best to eliminated New Zealand’s 15-year-old talented Chen Ting. The third Asian triumph in the weight class was acquired by Uzbekistan’s Governor Junior Cup bronze medallist Dilshodbek Ruzmetov who eliminated Tunisia’s Massoud Ben Brahim in a clear contest on Day 5.

Middleweight class (75 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Kosimkhon Kosimov is a gold medal favourite in the weight class but he had some warm moments against Belarus’ Aliaksei Alfiorau. The 16-year-old Uzbek boxer was still enough shape in the final round to turn back their narrow battle in St. Petersburg. Tajikistan’s last remained boxer Akhmadjon Saidov was excellent in the second preliminary round and defeated Algeria’s Zinedine Okka while India’s Sandeep Ghanghas also defeated Turkey’s Ozancan Aslantas in the fifth competition day.

Heavyweight class (+80 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Profsor Rorimsha won two rounds out of the three against Croatia’s Josip Biletic and advanced to the last eight where his next opponent will be a Georgian fighter. Kazakhstan’s Ardak Alimkhan replaced Nurdaulet Ulanuly and proved he is better boxer than Lithuania’s Marek Korolkov in the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships.