AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships – Semi-finals

Six Asian boxers advanced to the finals in St. Petersburg
The seventh competition day in the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships was held in St. Petersburg, Russia where ASBC President Mr. Serik Konakbayev and ASBC Vice-President Mr. Orzubek Nazarov visited the venue. Our continent was able to get 17 medals in St. Petersburg while finally four Uzbek and two Kazakh athletes won their semi-finals and advanced to the gold medal bouts.

Pinweight class (46 kg)
Kazakhstan’s 15-year-old Aibek Dossanov was gold medallist at the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan three months ago and he is the lone Asian athlete in the lowest weight class. He defeated three key boxers during his road to the semi-finals such as Hungary’s junior No.1 Alex Baki, Azerbaijan’s Kenan Aliyev and Thailand’s new sensation Thitisan Panmod. His semi-final opponent was Romania’s EUBC European Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Cosmin Girleanu and following his good start Dossanov suffered a narrow loss to the European boxer.

Light Flyweight class (48 kg)
Uzbekistan’s defending ASBC Asian Junior Champion Halimbek Utegenov moved up from the Pinweight class (46 kg) one month ago but quickly adopted the level of the punches. The 15-year-old Uzbek hope defeated his US opponent Angel Martinez in the quarter-finals and met with Ireland’s James Coughlan who reached the same level of the Bukhara region’s boxer. His European opponent was a bit more fresh than Utegenov in the final round and defeated Asia’s best hope in the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) but teh Uzbek boxer claimed a valuable bronze medal in St. Petersburg.
Kyrgyzstan’s Temirlan Nurlan Uulu reached his career highlight when he triumphed over Thailand’s Songsaeng Phoyaem and secured a guaranteed medal in St. Petersburg but he tried to do his very best against Russia’s favourite Ilia Popov but he suffered a loss to the nation’s unbeaten athlete.

Flyweight class (50 kg)
Kazakhstan’s defending ASBC Asian Junior Champion Daulet Nyssan had an early final against Cuba’s Erislandy Alvarez but he was able to solve that issue in the quarter-finals and eliminated the favourite. The 16-year-old Kazakh boxer faced with Italy’s Alessio Cangelosi in the semi-final stage of the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships and as expected he won all of the rounds against the European hope. Asia’s second boxer who was in action in this weight class AIBA Team’s Sachin lost to US talent Rey Diaz and claimed bronze.

Light Bantamweight class (52 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist Murodjon Aliyev eliminated a tough Asian athlete Philippines’ Cristian Pitt Laurente but he was defeated by another tough opponent Kazakhstan’s Junior National Champion Samatali Toltayev in the quarter-finals. The 16-year-old Kazakh boxer met with Russia’s Nikita Piskunov in the last four and his efforts were not enough to beat the host nation’s pride.

Featherweight class (57 kg)
Asia did great performance at the Featherweight class (57 kg) where three of our talented hopes advanced to the semi-finals. Thailand’s Sakda Ruamtham had to meet with US Junior National Champion Gabriel Flores and could not repeat his previous performance which meant he claimed a bronze medal which is his career highlight.
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships bronze medallist Aknazar Zhyldyzbek Uulu reached also his career highlight advancing to the semi-finals in St. Petersburg but he had to meet with our continent’s No.1 Uzbekistan’s defending ASBC Asian Junior Champion Bilolbek Mirzarakhimov. The Ferghana region’s boxer dominated all of the rounds in their contest and secured his place in the final of the event where his next opponent will be the US athlete.

Light Welterweight class (63 kg)
Kazakhstan’s Aibol Zhambirbay won silver medal in Tashkent three months ago and tried to control his bout against Russia’s Governor Junior Cup winner Osman Aliyev but the host nation’s boxer’s counter-attacks were successful. Asia’s second hope Uzbekistan’s current ASBC Asian Junior Champion Timur Merzhanov proved better performance than Zhambirbay and advanced to the gold medal bout. He is only 15 but he is a super talented fighter with excellent future expectations. The Uzbek boxer fought for the final with US Junior National Champion Leon Lawson and he could won all of the rounds in their battle.

Welterweight class (66 kg)
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Aldiyar Tursynali was eliminated in the previous part of the event therefore Uzbekistan’s Governor Junior Cup bronze medallist Dilshodbek Ruzmetov was the lone Asian athlete in the last four. He bagged silver in the continental event in Tashkent three months ago and arrived to the venue as secret favourite. His semi-final opponent was Ireland’s Paul Ryan who was a competitive rival for the Central Asian but he was able to eliminate his European rival winning the bout by split decision.

Light Middleweight class (70 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Yakhyokhon Saidkhonov is only 15 but proved top quality of boxing in St. Petersburg where he finally bagged a bronze medal. His next opponent was Russia’s EUBC European Schoolboys Champion Artem Oganesian who was able to beat the young Central Asian boxer in the front of the home crowd.

Middleweight class (75 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Kosimkhon Kosimov secured his nation’s sixth medal in St. Petersburg and had to face with another Asian athlete Tajikistan’s last remained boxer Akhmadjon Saidov in the semi-finals. The Tajik talent is a strong fighter but his technical skills were not enough yet to keep the level of the Uzbek boxer who won all of the rounds and advanced to the final of the Middleweight class (75 kg).

Light Heavyweight class (80 kg)
Asia’s last hope in the division Kazakhstan’s Khurshedshokh Iskandarov eliminated Finland’s Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup winner best junior boxer Krenar Aliu in the quarter-finals which showed his strength. The 16-year-old Kazakh boxer met with Ukraine’s EUBC European Junior Champion Arkadii Karcan and in spite of the previous chances he was able to eliminate one of the gold medal favourite.

Heavyweight class (+80 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Profsor Rorimsha is the most experienced boxer from their delegation who focused to the gold medal before the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships. The 16-year-old Bukhara-based boxer suffered an unexpected loss in the semi-final to Germany’s last hope in the event Daniel Malsam in the first semi-final of the weight class which was a tight bout.