Astana Arlans Kazakhstan advanced to the WSB Semi-finals following their next triumph over the Russian franchise

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan defeated the Russia’s Patriot Boxing Team fourth-time in Season VII, actually in the second leg of the WSB Quarter-finals and advanced to the Semi-finals stage of the Play-off. The Kazakh franchise defeated the Russians 4-1 in Karaganda and won the encounter on aggregate 7-3.
After the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships Asia’s two top franchises Astana Arlans Kazakhstan and the Uzbek Tigers had to box in the Play-off of the World Series of Boxing against such strong rivals as the Russian and Cuban teams. In spite of the short relaxation time Astana Arlans Kazakhstan advanced to the Semi-finals while the Uzbek Tigers were competitive for two-time WSB Team Champion Cuba Domadores.

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan vs. Patriot Boxing Team 4-1 (aggregate 7-3)
Two-time WSB Team Champion Astana Arlans Kazakhstan won five WSB matches in the difficult Asian Group and their boxers topped the Group C and advanced to the Play-off. Kazakhstan’s franchise was excellent in the first leg of the Quarter-finals against Patriot Boxing Team in Kemerovo, won that match 3-2 while they are able to defeat the Russians 4-1 in Karaganda in home soil.
ASBC Asian Champion and Rio 2016 Olympian Olzhas Sattibayev was excellent against Russia’s Ivan Abramov from the second round and he was able to catch his quick rival at the flyweight (52kg) bout of the day. Zakir Safiullin continued Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s winning path after beating Patriot Boxing Team’s former Tajik boxer Shakhriyor Akhmedov using new tactical elements in their lightweight (60kg) bout.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s Aslanbek Shymbergenov was not enough shape in the last round of the Group Stage but this time he was much better and controlled all of the rounds against his younger Russian rival. The host franchise’s fourth success was delivered by Arman Rysbek who won his fifth-in-a-row WSB bout against Russia’s strong Imam Khataev at the light heavyweight (81kg). Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s new debutant former ASBC Asian Junior Champion Dmitriy Zisko was brave in his first ever WSB bout but Russia’s Artem Suslenkov was better and used his experiences.

Final Results:
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan vs. Patriot Boxing Team 4-1
52kg: Olzhas Sattibayev KAZ – Ivan Abramov RUS 3-0
60kg: Zakir Safiullin KAZ – Shakhriyor Akhmedov RUS 3-0
69kg: Aslanbek Shymbergenov KAZ – Shakhabas Makhmudov RUS 3-0
81kg: Arman Rysbek KAZ – Imam Khataev RUS 3-0
+91kg: Dmitriy Zisko KAZ – Artem Suslenkov RUS 0-3

Cuba Domadores vs. Uzbek Tigers 5-0 (aggregate 7-3)
The best Uzbek boxers were excellent in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Tashkent but after a few days their stars were able to beat two-time WSB Team Champion Cuba Domadores 3-2 in their home match in Samarkand. In the second leg of the WSB Quarter-finals the Cubans won all of the five contests in Havana and the two-time WSB Team Champion Caribbeans advanced to the next stage.
ASBC Asian Champion Jasurbek Latipov looked tired against Cuba’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Yosbany Veitia and suffered a loss at the flyweight (52kg). Elnur Abduraimov proved better performance but his opponent was three-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez in Havana.
Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medalists as Shakhram Giyasov and Bektemir Melikuziev delivered their best performances in Havana and lost narrowly to their Olympic Champion Cuban rivals, Roniel Iglesias and Julio Cesar La Cruz. Bakhodir Jalolov started well against Cuba’s Jose Angel Larduet but from the second round he was not able to follow the best tactic and lost to his older Caribbean rival.

Final Results:
Cuba Domadores vs. Uzbek Tigers 5-0
52kg: Yosbany Veitia CUB – Jasurbek Latipov UZB 3-0
60kg: Lazaro Alvarez CUB – Elnur Abduraimov UZB 3-0
69kg: Roniel Iglesias CUB – Shakhram Giyasov UZB 3-0
81kg: Julio Cesar La Cruz CUB – Bektemir Melikuziev UZB 3-0
+91kg: Jose Angel Larduet CUB – Bakhodir Jalolov UZB 3-0