Chatchai Butdee and Somchay Wongsuwan surprised the fans in the semi-finals of the Thailand International Invitational Tournament

Thailand International Invitational Tournament - 01

The third day of the Thailand International Invitational Tournament produced exciting semi-finals in Bangkok and the winners are now finalists in the event. Thailand’s Chatchai Butdee delivered the biggest sensation of the semi-finals with his narrow triumph over Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Shakhobiddin Zoirov.
Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Champion, defending ASBC Asian Champion and unbeaten WSB star Hasanboy Dusmatov did not give any chance to his North Korean rival, Kim Un Song who did not find the best fighting distance in their bout. The 23-year-old Uzbek light flyweight (49kg) boxer pressurized his opponent and advanced to the final of the competition where his next opponent will be India’s last remained boxer Shyam Kumar Kakara who eliminated Mongolia’s Rio 2016 Olympian Gankhuyag Gan-Erdene.
Thailand’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Tanes Ongjunta returned to his original flyweight (52kg) and did his very best against Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Jasurbek Latipov. The 24-year-old Thai athlete exceeded the expectations and won their close bout in Bangkok where his final opponent will be Cuba’s Frank Saldivar.
Uzbekistan’s next Olympic Champion after Dusmatov, Shakhobiddin Zoirov dominated his quarter-final bout he had to meet with Thailand’s ASBC Asian Champion Chatchai Butdee in the semi-final. Zoirov, who moved up to the bantamweight (56kg) in the recent months, proved top performance in Bangkok but Butdee showed amazing stamina in the final round and eliminated his Uzbek star rival. The 32-yer-old Thai veteran will be boxing for the title of the event with DPR Korea’s young talent Jo Hyo Nam who eliminated Thailand’s Ammarit Yaodam in the second semi-final of the category.
Mongolia’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist and Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai eliminated Thailand’s Thiwa Janthacumpa and Rujakran Juntrong in the road to the semi-final where he had to do his very best against Cuba’s seven years younger Dariesky Palmero. The Mongolian lightweight (60kg) boxer was enough strong in the final round to decide their bout and will now meet with Thailand’s Somchay Wongsuwan who eliminated Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
Thailand’s ASBC Asian Champion and Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Wuttichai Masuk had warm moments in the quarter-finals and he survived also the dangerous period of his semi-final against Cuba’s former AIBA Youth World Champion Kevin Hayler Brown. The Thai light welterweight (64kg) favourite felt the rhythm in the second part of the bout and will now meet for the title with Uzbekistan’s Elnur Abduraimov in the last competition day.
Kazakhstan’s defending AIBA Youth World Champion Sadriddin Akhmedov was amazing against Turkmenistan’s teenage talent Serdar Amangeldiyev in the first preliminary round and following his top performance he spent only two minutes in the ring against Thailand’s veteran Apichet Saensit. Kazakhstan’s new 19-year-old sensation controlled his semi-final against Philippines’ new flag bearer Joel Bacho and advanced to the final in Bangkok. The dream final came true as Akhmedov’s final opponent will be Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Shakhram Giyasov.
Kazakhstan’s Bocskai Memorial Tournament winner Yerik Alzhanov eliminated India’s two-time Olympian Vikas Krishan Yadav on Day1 and continued his top performance against Thailand’s best middleweight (75kg) boxer Kuttiya Pathomsak but he was not able to keep that level and suffered a loss to Cuba’s 19-year-old Osley Iglesias. The Cuban talent will be boxing with Uzbekistan’s WSB hero Israil Madrimov who was unbeaten in 2016 and eliminated Thailand’s Teerapong Dee in the second semi-final of the category.