Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships – Day7 Semi-finals

Doha
Yeleussinov and Dychko advanced to the finals
The second part of the semi-finals was held in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships in the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena. Following the great performance of the Uzbek boxers which they delivered yesterday, Kazakhstan could amaze the fans winning both of their semi-finals in Doha.

Flyweight class (52 kg)
China’s WSB athlete Hu Jianguan defeated Uzbekistan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Shakhobiddin Zoirov and Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Olzhas Sattibayev in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships which results were unexpected ones in the event. The 22-year-old Chinese boxer had a tough Cuban opponent, AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Yosbany Veitia who was seeded as No.1 in Doha. The Chinese boxer used excellent footwork in the final but he did not feel the rhythm well enough and the counter-attacks of the Cuban boxer was even more successful which means Hu’s campaign ended in Doha.

Lightweight class (60 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Elnur Abduraimov defeated Algeria’s All Africa Games winner Reda Benbaziz, New Zealand’s Chad Milnes and surprisingly Mongolia’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner and current ASBC Asian Champion Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai in the previous stages. The 21-year-old Abduraimov met with Cuba’s two-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez in the semi-finals in Doha where he used different tactic than in the previous round. The young Uzbek hope was a competitive rival for the Cuban star and he could launch several great punches in their top level contest but finally Alvarez left the ring as a winner.

Welterweight class (69 kg)
Kazakhstan’s defending AIBA World Champion, Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Champion Daniyar Yeleussinov defeated Belarus’ EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Pavel Kastramin and Philippines’ ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Eumir Felix Marcial which bout was the repeat of the Bangkok final. Kazakhstan’s No.1 faced with Azerbaijan’s Baku 2015 European Games winner Parviz Baghirov in the semi-finals. Yeleussinov was tactically strong today and his smart box delivered for him a place in the final where he will now meet with Morocco’s Mohammad Rabii in the gold medal bout.
China’s Liu Wei surprisingly defeated Mongolia’s Byamba Tuvshinbat in a close contest and delivered a sensational triumph over Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis who claimed gold medal in the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships in Samokov two months ago. The Chinese boxer advanced to the semi-finals where his next opponent was Morocco’s Mohammed Rabii who already qualified to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Chinese boxer could not repeat his previous performance therefore he took a bronze in Doha.

Light Heavyweight class (81 kg)
Kazakhstan’s London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist Adilbek Niyazymbetov was defeated by Uzbekistan’s two-time Asian Games winner Elshod Rasulov in the quarter-final who was medallist in the AIBA World Boxing Championships in 2009 and in 2011 as well. Rasulov is on form and continued Uzbekistan’s great medal series at the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) which begun in 2003. The most experienced Uzbek team member had to meet with Ireland’s two-time EUBC European Champion Joseph Ward in the semi-final which contest was another spectacular one. The Irish boxer controlled the second part of their bout which means Rasulov will be travelling back to home with bronze.

Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg)
Kazakhstan’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist and Asian Games winner Ivan Dychko outpointed Brazil’s Rafael Duarte Lima and Germany’s promising Florian Schulz in the previous rounds and proved he is one of the main gold medal contender in Doha. His next opponent was Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov who defeated Cuba’s Leinier Pero and Jordan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Hussein Iashaish in the earlier part of the championships. Dychko defeated Jalolov in 2014 and also in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok some weeks ago. On their re-match in Doha Dychko was able to raise his level after the first round and his efforts were enough to beat his Uzbek opponent once again.