Asror Vohidov and Shabbos Negmatulloev were the stars of the Tajikistan Men’s Elite National Championships in Dushanbe

The National Boxing Championships of the Republic of Tajikistan was held in their capital in Dushanbe where six boxers were able to defend their titles. Tajikistan’s top boxers such as AIBA Junior World Champion Asror Vohidov, AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shabbos Negmatulloev and two-time Olympian Jakhon Qurbonov all won their weight classes in Dushanbe.
Altogether 65 strong men elite boxers attended in the male part of the Tajikistan National Championships where only the region’s best athletes could compete for the titles. The winners have got realistic chance to compete in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships which will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from April 28.
Khatlon’s Sukhrob Nazarov surprised his opponents in the final of the 2016 Tajikistan National Boxing Championships but after that success he was able to defend his title at the light flyweight (49kg) in the new edition. The 19-year-old talent won all of the rounds against Fakhriddin Okhundjonov and took his second national elite title in Dushanbe.
Khatlon region’s Bakhtovar Sagizov also won his first ever national title in Tajikistan in 2016 but after that success he was able to repeat that performance against AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event competitor Shukhrat Sabzaliyev in the final of the flyweight (52kg). The 19-year-old Sagizov won the final by 4:1 against his rival who moved up from the light flyweight (49kg) in the recent months.
Khudjand’s AIBA Junior World Champion Asror Vohidov involved to the national elite team in 2012 but he had unexpected losses in the recent years. The 21-year-old bantamweight (56kg) boxer changed his attitude and his efforts were enough to beat national team member Badakhshan’s teenager Fayzen Rakhmatshoev in the semi-final and Dushanbe’s Fayzmamad Malakhbekov in the narrow gold medal bout.
ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships silver medallist 19-year-old Bakhodur Usmonov joined to the national elite team in 2016 and he competed also in the qualification tournaments. Usmonov dominated his gold medal bout against 18-year-old Oyatullo Yakubov and defended his throne at the lightweight (60kg).
Odiljon Furkatjoni was not the favourite of the light welterweight (64kg) but following his bronze medal in 2016 he was planning surprise in the new edition. The Khatlon region’s boxer had a close quarter-final against experienced Akbar Safarov and did revenge in the final against titleholder 21-year-old Shokhrukh Oganazarov which was a big surprise in the Tajikistan National Championships.
AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event competitor veteran Sharaf Davlatov was the favourite of the welterweight (69kg) but he suffered an unexpected loss to Khatlon’s Nekruz Salimov in the semi-final. The gold medal of the category was won by a new face Khayrmamad Malakhbekov who defeated their Youth National Champion 19-year-old Nekruz Salimov in the gold medal bout.
Former ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships competitor Saydo Samadov returned to the ring and delivered another big surprise in the event in Dushanbe. He eliminated international boxer Asomiddin Burkhonov and Nodir Khalimov in the road to the final of the middleweight (75kg) where he was too strong for National Champion Mirzomukhammed Bakhtiyar.
AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist and ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Shabbos Negmatulloev is Tajikistan’s big future hope who will be turning to 20 only later this year. He was moved up to the light heavyweight (81kg) half year ago but claimed his second national title in his new category in Dushanbe. The younger Negmatulloev was too strong to ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Navruz Jafoev in their re-match.
Jakhon Qurbonov claimed his Asian title in 2005, won the Asian Games in 2006 and competed in two Olympic Games and after plenty of international experiences he decided to continue his boxing career after his 30th birthday. The Khudjand-based heavyweight (91kg) boxer had a close semi-final against Shukhrat Abdulazizoda but in the final was energetic and tough against Khatlon’s Bakhodur Boyev. Nodir Mukhammadiyev, who was has got experiences from several international events, claimed only bronze this time.
The last gold medal of the Tajikistan National Championships was achieved by Singapore 2010 Youth Olympian Siyovush Zukhurov who defeated veteran Rustam Azizov, National Championships silver medallist Akram Khudoyberdiyev and finally Dilovarsho Abdurakhmonov who is member of the national team since 2011. The super heavyweight (+91kg) delivered big battles in the national event, their 218cm tall giant Mekhrodjiddin Karimov lost his quarter-final bout to Abdurakhmanov this time.

List of the winners in the Tajikistan National Championships
Men’s 49kg: Sukhrob Nazarov
Men’s 52kg: Bakhtovar Sagizov
Men’s 56kg: Asror Vohidov
Men’s 60kg: Bakhodur Usmonov
Men’s 64kg: Odiljon Furkatjoni
Men’s 69kg: Khayrmamad Malakhbekov
Men’s 75kg: Saydo Samadov
Men’s 81kg: Shabbos Negmatulloev
Men’s 91kg: Djakhon Qurbonov
Men’s +91kg: Siyovush Zukhurov