Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships – Day6 Report

Uzbekistan’s great day in Doha
After the amazing quarter-final contests the first part of the semi-finals were held at the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships in the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena. Asia achieved 13 medals in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships and the further fights are not only going to the titles but for the Olympic quotas.
The LOC of the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships divided the semi-finals into two parts, the bouts of the 49 kg, 56 kg, 64 kg, 75 kg and 91 kg. In the first day of the semi-finals Uzbekistan proved amazing performance in Doha where all of their three boxers advanced to the gold medal bouts.

Light Flyweight class (49 kg)
Philippines’ ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Rogen Ladon eliminated Mexico’s two-time Panamerican Games winner Joselito Velasquez and Poland’s Dawid Jagodzinski in the previous two rounds in Doha. Ladon reached his career highlight winning a medal in an AIBA World Boxing Championships but he was still hungry for further successes. The 22-year-old rising hope planned to use a bit different tactic against Russia’s Vasilii Egorov who achieved gold medal at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championship. The Filipino boxer was not enough shape in the opening round but he was better in the second where he had some great counter-attacks. Ladon had a brave attempt to turn back the bout and had a great run in the final three minutes but Egorov could keep a tiny advantage in their contest.

Bantamweight class (56 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliev eliminated Kazakhstan’s Kairat Yeraliyev who was seeded as No.1 in Doha and after that success he was too strong for another top Asian rival Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Champion Chatchai Butdee in Doha. India’s former ASBC Asian Champion Shiva Thapa defeated two North African boxers in the preliminaries and the second one he knocked out in Doha. Thapa was patient against Qatar’s APB boxer Hakan Erseker who was seeded in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships in the quarter-finals and reached his career highlight. Akhmadaliev and Thapa fought for the place in the final which contest was a really spectacular one. The Uzbek boxer will be turning to 21 next month but his motivation and fighting spirit was enough to beat Thapa who was excellent in the final round. Akhmadaliev’s next opponent for the gold will be Ireland’s Michael Conlan.

Light Welterweight class (64 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist and London 2012 Olympian Fazliddin Gaibnazarov won the key bout of the quarter-finals where he was too strong for Italy’s Vincenzo Mangiacapre who took medals in all of the major international championships. The 24-year-old Uzbek boxer had to meet now with Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Champion and Asian Games winner Wuttichai Masuk who eliminated Puerto Rico’s Danielito Zorrilla in the quarter-finals. Gaibnazarov used a different what he did in Bangkok and counter-attacked the counter-attacking Thai boxer which delivered for him a place in the finals where he will now meet with Russia’s Vitaliy Dunaytsev.

Middleweight class (75 kg)
Uzbekistan’s sensation ASBC Asian Champion and Nanjing Youth Olympic Games winner Bektemir Melikuziev won two preliminary contests and eliminated another gold medal contender Russia’s Petr Khamukov in the quarter-finals. On his fourth appearance in the Doha he had to meet with Ireland’s Baku 2015 European Games winner Michael O’Reilly who triumphed over Kazakhstan’s defending AIBA World Champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly in a tactical contest. Melikuziev amazed the judges and the spectators with his virtuoso style and due his excellent first and second round he could advance to the finals where his next opponent will be Cuba’s Arlen Lopez.