Asilbek Jalilov eliminated Aaron Bado in the battle of the champions

Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov eliminated the defending champion from the Philippines in the sixth competition day at the ASBC Asian U22 & Youth Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam had excellent youth competitions in 2022 and the flyweight (51kg) boxer replaced a former Asian Youth Champion, Bishwamitra Chongtham in their U22 national team. The Indian had a very competitive and progressed rival, Bhutan’s Phuntsho Kinley who had a brave attempt to keep the rhythm with Singh today. The 20-year-old Indian received several punches from Kinley and he had to do his very best to win this U22 quarter-final today.

Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov claimed the Asian U22 title in 2022 while his opponent from the Philippines, Aaron Jude Bado in 2023. Both boxers have similar patient style and they were waiting for the best attacking moments in the first round to score and in that tactical game the 20-year-old Uzbek was successful. Bado had to move forward in the third round due to his disadvantage on the scorecards but it has supported Jalilov’s success in this quarter-final between the two champions. 

Kyrgyzstan’s Asian Youth silver medallist Bekzat Ergeshov did not underestimate his opponent from Timor Leste, Shevanio Dos Santos Henriques and he landed better shots in the first round. The 19-year-old Kyrgyz used the recent Shopokov Memorial Tournament as his last preparations and he bagged another ASBC medal in his career. Ergeshov’s best round was the second in this bout but the teenage talent from Timor Leste also proved his potential.

India’s Ashish is a smaller boxer than Mongolia’s Enkhsaikhan Oyun-Erdene but he landed his punches from longer distance in the first round. The Mongolian received the best instructions in the second round and he equalized the scores therefore the final result was depended on their performance in the third. Oyun-Erdene ruled the third round, he finished the job with multiple shots and the Mongolian advanced to the semi-finals of the bantamweight (54kg) with a well-deserved victory.

Following Uzbekistan’s Asian Youth Champion Khujanazar Nortojiyev’s success over Kyrgyzstan’s Elistan Alimzhanov, a local boy closed the quarter-finals of the bantamweight (54kg). Nursultan Altynbek, the Asian U22 Champion, had a tough bout against Iraq’s Karrar Hayder Kadhim who had the same speed as the Kazakh boxer today but the local star won their meeting in Astana.

Kazakhstan’s Yerbolat Sabyr, the Youth World silver medallist, is the next strong hope from Pavlodar after their Tokyo Olympian Serik Temirzhanov and he had a quick opponent, Jordan’s Awos Eshish in the quarter-final of the featherweight (57kg). The Kazakh boxer was more punctual than his younger rival from Jordan, and he managed the pathway to the semi-finals in Astana.

Tajikistan’s Asian U22 medallist Khusravkhon Rakhimov competes in several preparation tournaments in Kazakhstan every year and the 22-year-old featherweight (57kg) boxer felt the distance in the first round against Vietnam’s Nguyen Duy Anh. Rakhimov subdued his Southeast Asian opponent, his physical skills are much better than in his last appearance therefore the Tajik marched to the semi-finals.

Philippines’ Mark Ashley Fajardo is one of the strongest punchers at the light welterweight (63.5kg) who proved his strength in the preliminary round in Astana as well. The 19-year-old Filipino needed only a few seconds to knock out Iraq’s Asian Games bronze medallist Ali Qasim Al-Sarray with his right-handed punch which was the quickest success on Day6.

Kazakhstan’s Yerassyl Tankay had longer hands than Turkmenistan’s Azizbek Matyakubov but he had difficulties in the first round of their light welterweight (63.5kg) bout. After the first equal round, Tankay landed his powerful body shots in the second round which decided their quarter-final and delivered a stoppage for the Kazakh boxer. Kazakhstan’s Youth World Champion Sabyrzhan Akkalykov caught his Iranian opponent, Eisa Fardin Khalifehlou with heavy shots already in the first round and he had the dominance in their light middleweight (71kg) quarter-final. The 21-year-old Kazakh has excellent technical skills and his strength is also in the world-class level therefore Akkalykov is in the last four in Astana.

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