Birzhan Zhakipov qualified to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
14 July, 2015
Birzhan Zhakipov qualified to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Kazakhstan’s defending AIBA World Boxing Champion Birzhan Zhakipov has qualified to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following his triumph over Ecuador’s London 2012 Olympian Carlos Quipo in the AIBA Pro Boxing Cycle I Round 2.
Kazakhstan’s No.1 in the Light Flyweight class (49 kg) secured his place in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games one year before the start and opening of the important event which was the Central Asian nation’s third quota for Rio de Janeiro after Berik Abdrakhmanov’s and Vasiliy Levit’s previous successes.
Zhakipov won his first bout against Brazil’s defending AMBC American Continental Champion Patrick Lourenco in the Cycle I Round 1 one month ago in a re-match between the two strong boxers. Following that contest Zhakipov prepared to his next goal to get the Rio 2016 Olympic quota in the important Round 2.
The 31-year-old Kazakh boxer had a well-built tactic against Ecuador’s Carlos Quipo who also aimed for the quota to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Zhakipov tried to keep the distance and used his height advantage to stop the attacks of his South American counterpart in their world class level bout.
Zhakipov’s longer hands were the difference between the boxers in the first round of the bout but Ecuador’s Carlos Quipo turned up the heat and changed into an aggressive style in the further part of the important contest. The Kazakh veteran moved more than his Ecuadorian rival and avoided the punches while his counter-attacks were successful several times which meant Zhakipov won the bout by unanimous decision.
That important triumph delivered for Zhakipov a quota place and can prepares to his third-in-a-row Olympic Games. Kazakhstan’s national pride advanced to the quarter-final stages in Beijing and also in London therefore his goal is to accomplish his first medal in an Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year.
Zhakipov not only qualified to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games but he will be fighting for the APB Champion Belt against China’s former AIBA Youth World Champion Lu Bin who is also an Olympian.