Bakhodir Jalolov became the king of the super heavyweight in Yekaterinburg where the Asians achieved four titles out of the eight
The AIBA World Boxing Championships finished with its eight final contests in Yekaterinburg, Russia where Asia ranked No.1 among the continents. Fifteen Asians earned medals in the AIBA World Boxing Championships and four out of the eight titles earned by our top Uzbeks and Kazakhs. Shakhobiddin Zoirov, Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov, Bekzad Nurdauletov and Bakhodir Jalolov became AIBA World Champions from Asia.
Uzbekistan topped the medal standings with their three gold medals ahead of the Russian Federation. Kazakhstan achieved Asia’s fourth title in the AIBA World Boxing Championships continuing their fantastic series in our sport. India, Philippines and Mongolia are the further nations in Asia which have medallists in the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships.
Altogether 107 Asian elite male boxers attended in the event from 21 nations: Afghanistan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philippines, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan.
Asia’s first title was achieved by Uzbekistan’s Olympic Champion Zoirov
Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner Shakhobiddin Zoirov moved back to the flyweight (52kg) and following his success over France’s Billal Bennama, he looked still in top shape in the day of the finals. The 26-year-old Uzbek ruled the middle of the ring in the first round and he was a hard target for the India’s Asian Games winner Amit Panghal. The two-year younger Amit felt he needs to go forward more in the second and some of his hooks reached the target. Zoirov has the longer reach in their final and his counter-punches came with perfect timing. The Indian boxer was more aggressive in the third round in a bout which delivered world class tactical skills from both sides but following his Olympic success, Zoirov returned with a World title.
Mirzakhalilov defeated the Cuban icon in the final of the bantamweight (57kg)
Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov has done hard job in semi-final of the bantamweight (57kg) against Mongolia’s Erdenebat Tsendbaatar but finally he was able to achieve that success. The defending ASBC Asian Champion and Jakarta 2018 Asian Games winner Uzbek met for the gold with Cuba’s three-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez. Mirzakhalilov looked motivated from the first seconds and used his pressurizing tactic in the opening minutes. Their final was finished before the last gong when the Cuban was injured in the second round due a head blow therefore the judges had to score the bout after five minutes. The final was won by Mirzakhalilov who defeated the Cuban icon and achieved Uzbekistan’s second success in the AIBA World Boxing Championships.
Kazakhstan’s title was won by 21-year-old Bekzad Nurdauletov
Kazakhstan’s Bekzad Nurdauletov received the right to attend in Yekaterinburg from head coach Mr. Galymbek Kenzhebayev and the 21-year-old motivated youngster delivered the main sensation of the semi-finals on Friday. Nurdauletov stopped Cuba’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner and four-time AIBA World Champion Julio Cesar La Cruz with fantastic performance and advanced to the final of the light heavyweight (81kg). His final opponent was Uzbekistan’s 20-year-old Dilshodbek Ruzmetov who bowed out England’s Benjamin Whittaker in the last four. Nurdauletov’s jabs and hooks were also dangerous for Ruzmetov in the first round of their gold medal contest. The Kazakh jumped in to land punches in the battle of the southpaw and neighbouring boxers. Another young Kazakh Nurmaganbet defeated Ruzmetov in the ASBC Asian Boxing Championships this April and Nurdauletov has done the same in Yekaterinburg claiming a gold for Kazakhstan.
Uzbekistan’s third gold earned by Bakhodir Jalolov as king of the super heavyweight (+91kg)
Kazakhstan’s Kamshybek Kunkabayev walked over to the gold medal contest following his opponent, Australia’s AIBA Youth World Champion Justis Huni was unable to box in the day of the semi-finals. The Kazakh super heavyweight (+91kg) had to meet for the gold with his top Asian rival Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov once again following their previous meetings. Both experienced boxers are southpaw and knew the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents in the second Uzbekistan vs. Kazakhstan final. The 25-year-old Jalolov had the height advantage which he used well enough in the first round of their superb final. Kunkabayev and Jalolov have got excellent athletic skills in spite of their weight and landed high number of shots in the final. The Uzbek boxer had four impressive stopping jabs in the second round and received only one strong punch from the Kazakh side in that period. Jalolov dominated the third round with his effectiveness and defeated his Kazakh opponent once again following the finals of the 2017 and 2019 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships.
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