ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships – Semi-finals Report

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan dominated the semi-finals in Bangkok
The spectacular semi-finals were held at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok, Thailand in the ninth competition day when the winners of the bouts advanced to the gold medal contests.

Light Flyweight class (49 kg):
Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov won all of his WSB bouts this year and arrived to the venue as favourite against AIBA Team’s Laishram Devendro Singh who was silver medallist in the last edition in Amman. Both boxers proved wonderful performance in the bout with a lot of attacks, and finally Dusmatov’s hand was raised. In the second semi-final of the lowest weight class Philippines’ Rogen Ladon and Mongolia’s Gankhuyag Ganerdene did a great battle in Bangkok with the same chances to win the bout. Both boxers were born in 1993 and after the bout of the youngsters the Filipino hope was even happier following his tight victory over the Mongolian No.1.

Flyweight class (52 kg):
Kazakhstan’s Olzhas Sattibayev won the title in the Season V at the World Series of Boxing and eliminated a host nation star Tanes Ongjunta and Turkmenistan’s Zarip Jumayev in the previous stages. He had to meet with Kyrgyzstan’s Azat Usenaliev who is the defending champion in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. The Kyrgyz boxer tried to control the opening round and had more attacks in the second round as well but Sattibayev’s counter-attacks were most effective. The final round was a real battle between them and both boxers were deserved the place in the gold medal bouts but finally Sattibayev’s hand was raised.
China’s WSB boxer Hu Jianguan defeated Korea’s AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Kim In Kyu and DPR Korea’s Ri Chung Il in the previous stages of the event but his next opponent was Uzbekistan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Shakhobiddin Zoirov. The Uzbek boxer used a bit different tactic in the bout and his counter-attacks surprised the Chinese ringside. Zoirov had stronger punches and dominated the second round which means he can fight for the gold medal against Sattibayev.

Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Kazakhstan’s Kayrat Yeraliyev and Thailand’s Chatchai Butdee both were bronze medallist in the last edition of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty but the Southeast Asian athlete reached that result in the Flyweight class (52 kg). Now he moved up one category and delighted the home crowd with his amazing performance. Butdee was quicker in the second round in the bout of the southpaw fighters and following his great final round he was able to win the contest on home soil.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliyev won the last two editions of the National Championships and the 20-year-old fighter proved he is ready to do big results in a continental event. Akhmadaliyev was really strong to AIBA Team’s Shiva Thapa who was the defending champion in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships.

Lightweight class (60 kg):
Mongolia’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai eliminated Thailand’s Muay Thai star Pachanya Longchin in the quarter-finals which means he is now closer to his goal. His semi-final opponent was Uzbekistan’s two-time National Champion Elnur Abduraimov who had a hectic battle against Iran’s China Open Tournament winner Golara Forootan but finally he could advance to the semi-finals. After the first tactical round Otgondalai had a clear punch in the second one and in spite of Abduraimov’s great efforts in the last three minutes the bleeding Mongolian was able to get through to the finals.
Japan’s currently best boxer Daisuke Narimatsu had three tight contests in the previous rounds in Bangkok and he was a bit more tired than his opponent, Kazakhstan’s WSB Team Champion Zakir Safiullin who eliminated his main rival Philippines’ Charly Suarez in the preliminary round. Their bout delivered top level fight in spite of the fact both were tired after the long road in the championships. Safiullin was more effective in their contest and defeated Japan’s No.1 in Bangkok.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
Thailand’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Wuttichai Masuk was gold medallist at the 2009 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Zhuhai at the age of 19 and now he is planning to repeat that on home soil. The 25-year-old Thai pride met with Korea’s Lim Hyun Chul which bout was the re-match of the final of the Incheon 2014 Asian Games. Masuk had great footwork once again and concentrated so much until the final bell
Uzbekistan’s London 2012 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Fazliddin Gaibnazarov is a tough boxer who returned to the elite of the Asian athletes some two bad years. The 24-year-old Central Asian boxer met with Syria’s super talented Ahmad Ghossoun who tried to keep the top level against his tough rival. The 19-year-old Syrian boxer was not enough good to win the bout against such a top boxer as Gaibnazarov.

Welterweight class (69 kg):
Kazakhstan’s current AIBA World Champion and two-time Asian Games winner Daniyar Yeleussinov is not only the best boxer in Asia but the top one in the entire globe. The 24-year-old boxer was creative and busy against Mongolia’s London 2012 Olympian Byamba Tuvshinbat in the opening two rounds. The Mongolian veteran had a lethal punch in the final round when the referee counted Yeleussinov but his final triumph was not in danger.
Japan’s London 2012 Olympian Yasuhiro Suzuki tried to use his longer reach against Philippines’ AIBA Junior World Champion Eumir Felix Marcial who eliminated Thailand’s veteran Saylom Ardee in the last eight. The Japanese boxer tried to moved more in the opening round than his opponent and found the best attacking positions. Marcial had better performance in the second and final three minuted and turned back their bout.

Middleweight class (75 kg):
Uzbekistan’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner and AIBA Youth World Champion Bektemir Melikuziev eliminated his main rival Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly in the quarter-finals and he did almost the same top performance against Iran’s Sajad Mehrabi. The 19-year-old Uzbek boxer was a bit nervous in the opening round as he felt the big expectations but his efforts were enough to beat the tough Iranian who claimed bronze once again after the Amman event. Melikuziev will now meet for the gold with AIBA Team’s former Asian Games winner Vikas Krishan Yadav who defeated his veteran Iraqi rival, Waheed Abderredha.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):
Kazakhstan’s London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist Adilbek Niyazymbetov eliminated Syria’s Alaaldin Ghossoun in the quarter-finals and continued the winning path in the semi-finals as well. He had to meet with Iran’s Hassan Shahini who replaced their Rio 2016 Olympian Ehsan Rouzbahani who is preparing to his APB title bout. The Kazakh boxer did a massacre in the second round when he found the best fighting distance in the bout and dominated their bout.
Uzbekistan’s two-time Asian Games winner Elshod Rasulov was even more confident than Korea’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist and former ASBC Asian Continental Champion Kim Hyeong Kyu in the second semi-final of the category. The 29-year-old Uzbek boxer dominated the opening round in their bout and following the Korean boxer’s warnings the referee disqualified Kim in the last round.

Heavyweight class (91 kg):
Kazakhstan’s WSB Individual and Team Champion Vasiliy Levit proved wonderful footwork in the day of the semi-finals and did not give any chance to Tajikistan’s former Asian Games winner Jakhon Qurbonov in Bangkok. Levit moved so well and quick like a Lightweight class (60 kg) boxer and advanced to the final of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships where his next opponent will be Uzbekistan’s strong favourite Rustam Tulaganov who eliminated Iran’s new Heavyweight class (91 kg) team member Reza Moradkhani in a tactical battle.

Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):
Kazakhstan’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist and Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Ivan Dychko eliminated Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov in the quarter-final of the category who was his main rival in Bangkok. Dychko had to box against Jordan’s last remained hope ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Hussein Iashaish who is famous of his strong attacks. Dychko began boxing only at the age of 16 but his power was dangerous to the Jordan youngster
AIBA Team’s Satish Kumar was quarter-finalist in the last edition of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty and arrived to Bangkok in top shape. His semi-final opponent was China’s WSB boxer Wang Zhibao who eliminated Iran’s Abdulmajid Sepahvandi in the quarter-finals with stronf performance. The Chinese boxer tried to use his best weapon his jabs to keep the distance but Kumar also had great fighting spirit. Their close battle was won by the Chinese boxer and will now meet for the gold with Kazakhstan’s star Ivan Dychko.

Day 10 – Finals:
The ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships will be finished with the 10 anticipated final bouts tomorrow.