Astana Arlans Kazakhstan and the Uzbek Tigers both won 3-2 in the first leg of the WSB Quarter-finals

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 and the Uzbek Tigers both won the first leg of the Quarter-finals 3-2 in Kemerovo and in Samarkand.

Patriot Boxing Team vs. Astana Arlans Kazakhstan 2-3
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 Russia’s Patriot Boxing Team in Kemerovo and won their away match 3-2.
Russia’s Bator Sagaluev defeated Kazakhstan’s Temirtas Zhussupov in the Group Stage in Season VII and the Baku 2015 European Games winner light flyweight (49kg) boxer was able to repeat that in Kemerovo. Following the first Russian victory Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Ilyas Suleimenov was able to beat Maksim Chernyshev in a close contest at the bantamweight (56kg).
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s Dilmurat Mizhitov was newcomer in Season VII but following his first WSB success a few weeks ago he shocked the favourite Russian, Aleksey Mazur in Kemerovo. Mizhitov’s amazing success inspired Saparbay Aidarov at the middleweight (75kg) to exceed the previous expectations and beat Russia’s National Champion Andrey Kovalchuk. Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Anton Pinchuk defeated Russia’s Ilia Kvasnikov in the group phase but this time his opponent defeated him with his strong punches therefore Astana Arlans Kazakhstan could win the match finally 3-2.

Final Results:
Patriot Boxing Team vs. Astana Arlans Kazakhstan 2-3
49kg: Bator Sagaluev RUS – Temirtas Zhussupov KAZ 3-0
56kg: Maksim Chernyshev RUS – Ilyas Suleimenov KAZ 0-3
64kg: Aleksey Mazur RUS – Dilmurat Mizhitov KAZ 1-2
75kg: Andrey Kovalchuk RUS – Saparbay Aidarov KAZ 0-3
91kg: Ilia Kvasnikov RUS – Anton Pinchuk KAZ RSCI 2nd round

Uzbek Tigers vs. Cuba Domadores 3-2
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. The encounter was held in the historical Samarkand which is a new venue in the World Series of Boxing.
Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner and two-time ASBC Asian Champion Hasanboy Dusmatov won his 13th WSB bout against Cuba Domadores’ AIBA World Champion Joahnys Oscar Argilagos which was the opening contest of their WSB night. Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliev won the second bout for the Uzbek Tigers following his top performance against Cuba Domadores’ Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner Javier Ibanez.
Cuba Domadores’ first success was achieved by Andy Cruz who could use his best fighting distance against Ikboljon Kholdarov at the light welterweight (64kg). ASBC Asian Champion Israil Madrimov won all of his contests in the recent 18 months and dominated his bout against Cuba’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner Arlen Lopez which was a revenge for the Olympic final where another Uzbek boxer, Bektemir Melikuziev lost closely. Cuba’s second triumph was achieved by Erislandy Savon who was too experienced for Uzbekistan’s newcomer Sanjar Tursunov.

Final Results:
Uzbek Tigers vs. Cuba Domadores 3-2
49kg: Hasanboy Dusmatov UZB – Joahnys Oscar Argilagos CUB 3-0
56kg: Murodjon Akhmadaliev UZB – Javier Ibanez CUB 2-1
64kg: Ikboljon Kholdarov UZB – Andy Cruz CUB 0-3
75kg: Israil Madrimov UZB – Arlen Lopez CUB 3-0
91kg: Sanjar Tursunov UZB – Erislandy Savon CUB 0-3