Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships – First part of the Finals

Uzbekistan achieved three silver medals in Doha
After the semi-final contests the first part of the gold medal bouts were held at the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships in the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena. Asia achieved 13 medals in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships and five of our athletes advanced also to the finals of the championships.
The LOC of the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships divided the finals into two parts same as in the semi-finals. The gold medal bouts of the 49 kg, 56 kg, 64 kg, 75 kg and 91 kg classes were held on Wednesday in Doha. In the first day of the finals the three Uzbek boxers claimed three silver medals for Asia.

Bantamweight class (56 kg)
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliev eliminated Kazakhstan’s Kairat Yeraliyev, Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Champion Chatchai Butdee in Doha and India’s former ASBC Asian Champion Shiva Thapa which means he met only Asian top rivals in the road to the finals. Akhmadaliev’s next opponent for the gold was Ireland’s Michael Conlan who is the current EUBC European Champion and the Commonwealth Games winner. The 24-year-old Irish boxer has already qualified to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following his clear performance in the World Series of Boxing. Akhmadaliev proved top quality of performance and knocked down his superb Irish opponent in the final round but his efforts were not enough to turn back the contest which means Uzbekistan could get silver in Doha.
Besides to the final bout India’s ASBC Asian Champion Shiva Thapa fought for the third place in the box-off against Belarus’ 19-year-old Dzmitry Asanau who claimed silver medal in the Baku 2015 European Games. The Indian boxer proved his best performance only in the final round against his teenage rival and could not turn back the bout. Shiva Thapa looked more tired than his Belarusian opponent in the box-off.

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 defeated also Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Champion and Asian Games winner Wuttichai Masuk on their re-match after the Bangkok finals. Gaibnazarov’s last and final opponent was Russia’s reigning EUBC European Champion Vitaliy Dunaytsev who eliminated Cuba’s Seed No.1 Yasniel Toledo Lopez in the second semi-finals. The Russian boxer used up the faults of the Uzbek athlete and in spite of Gaibnazarov’s efforts Dunaytsev could win their gold medal bout.
The box-off for the third place in this weight class also affected an Asian boxer, Thailand’s Wuttichai Masuk who should have been met with the above mentioned Cuban star. The Thai southpaw walked over as his Cuban opponent was not able to fight against him.

Middleweight class (75 kg)
Uzbekistan’s sensation ASBC Asian Champion and Nanjing Youth Olympic Games winner Bektemir Melikuziev defeated two gold medal contenders in Doha firstly Russia’s Petr Khamukov in the quarter-finals and following that he was also too smart for 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 tried to keep his concentration in the final against Cuba’s Arlen Lopez who is the current WSB Champion. The 19-year-old Uzbek sensation was not enough shape in the opening round but he turned up the heat from the second and he was near to get his first AIBA World Boxing Championships’ title.