Astana Arlans Kazakhstan defeated their old rivals the British Lionhearts 3-2 in the first part of the WSB Semi-finals in Sheffield

Defending WSB Team Champion Astana Arlans Kazakhstan advanced to the Play-off following their superb performance in the Group Stage of Season VIII. Astana Arlans Kazakhstan has done a superb start in the first part of the WSB Semi-final when their boxers defeated British Lionhearts 3-2 in Sheffield.

British Lionhearts – Astana Arlans Kazakhstan 2-3
The three-time WSB Team Champion Astana Arlans Kazakhstan lost its WSB Semi-final to British Lionhearts in Season VI but the franchise was able to do revenge in the same stage of Season VII. The Kazakh team had to meet with the British Lionhearts in the Semi-final of Season VIII and their boxers impressed in the first away match in Sheffield which they won 3-2 before the second home encounter which will be held in Kazakhstan next week.
Former ASBC Asian Champion Temirtas Zhussupov used his long range tactic against British Lionhearts’ Galal Yafai but his English opponent was enough strong in the middle of the bout to beat the Kazakh light flyweight (49kg) boxer by split decision. Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Ilyas Suleimenov was more confident in the ring against British Lionhearts’ Niall Farrell and won their bantamweight (56kg) bout by large margin of differences.
Dilmurat Mizhitov joined back to the team and he won the key contest of the match against Dalton Smith proving better performances than expected. Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Abilkhan Amankul impressed once again and won his 7th WSB bout against Jordan Reynolds. Arbek Abduganiyev did not find the best fighting distance against England’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Cheavon Clarke and suffered a clear loss but Astana Arlans Kazakhstan won the full match 3-2 in Sheffield.

Final Results
British Lionhearts – Astana Arlans Kazakhstan 2-3
49kg: Galal Yafai ENG – Temirtas Zhussupov KAZ 2-1
56kg: Niall Farrell ENG – Ilyas Suleimenov KAZ 0-3
64kg: Dalton Smith ENG – Dilmurat Mizhitov KAZ 0-3
75kg: Jordan Reynolds ENG – Abilkhan Amankul KAZ 0-3
91kg: Cheavon Clarke ENG – Arbek Abduganiyev KAZ 3-0