Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai’s KO success was the highlight of the finals in the Thailand International Invitational Tournament

After the exciting semi-finals the Thailand International Invitational Tournament finished with its gold medal contests in Bangkok. Thailand, the host country of the event, claimed three gold medals while India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Uzbekistan each achieved one title in Bangkok.
Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Champion, defending ASBC Asian Champion and unbeaten WSB star Hasanboy Dusmatov is one of the best Asian boxer in our present days. He did not give any chance to his technician North Korean rival, Kim Un Song in the semi-final of the light flyweight (49kg) and advanced to the final of the event. The 23-year-old Uzbek star was not able to fight in the final with India’s last remained boxer Shyam Kumar Kakara today therefore the Indian youngster won the title by walk over.
Thailand’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist and SEA Games runner-up Tanes Ongjunta returned to his original flyweight (52kg) last year and surprisingly he defeated Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Jasurbek Latipov in the semi-final of the event. The 24-year-old Thai athlete exceeded the expectations also in the final against Cuba’s WSB team member Frank Saldivar and won the gold of the strong weight category. Besides to Latipov the second bronze medal was taken by Kazakhstan’s Azat Makhmetov in the event.
Thailand’s second gold medal was achieved by their defending ASBC Asian Champion Chatchai Butdee who qualified also for the last two editions of the Olympic Games as well. The 32-year-old Thai veteran eliminated Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Shakhobiddin Zoirov in the semi-final of the bantamweight (56kg) which was one of the biggest surprise of the whole event. Butdee had to meet in the final of the tournament with DPR Korea’s young talent 20-year-old Jo Hyo Nam who was a competitive rival for the Thai athlete but could not stop his attacks in Bangkok.
Mongolia’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist, ASBC Asian Champion and Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai eliminated Thailand’s duo Thiwa Janthacumpa, Rujakran Juntrong and Cuba’s seven years younger Dariesky Palmero in the road to the finals. The Mongolian lightweight (60kg) boxer, who achieved only silver in their last National Championships, shocked his final opponent Thailand’s 20-year-old Somchay Wongsuwan with his strength. The 29-year-old Mongolian knocked out his younger Thai opponent and secured his next tournament title while Uzbekistan’s star boxer Murodjon Akhmadaliev achieved only bronze this time.
Thailand’s ASBC Asian Champion and Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Wuttichai Masuk could not win any big events in the recent one and half year but he returned with top performance in Bangkok. He had warm moments in the quarter-finals and also in the semi-final against Cuba’s former AIBA Youth World Champion Kevin Hayler Brown but he was able to advance to the finals. The Thai light welterweight (64kg) favourite was still enough fresh to beat Uzbekistan’s Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Elnur Abduraimov in the final of the event.
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 walked over to the gold medal against Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Shakhram Giyasov. Their possible shape match can come in the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Israil Madrimov is still unbeaten in the World Series of Boxing and did not lose any contests in the recent one and half year. The 22-year-old Uzbek middleweight (75kg) star eliminated Thailand’s Teerapong Dee in the semi-final and continued his winning path against Cuba’s teenager Osley Iglesias who eliminated Kazakhstan’s Bocskai Memorial Tournament winner Yerik Alzhanov in the last four. Madrimov moved ahead from the first seconds against his taller Cuban rival and he was able to catch his younger rival with powerful hooks which meant he could win Uzbekistan’s lone gold medal in Bangkok.

List of the winners in the Thailand International Invitational Tournament
49kg: Shyam Kumar Kakara, India
52kg: Tanes Ongjunta, Thailand
56kg: Chatchai Butdee, Thailand
60kg: Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai, Mongolia
64kg: Wuttichai Masuk, Thailand
69kg: Sadriddin Akhmedov, Kazakhstan
75kg: Israil Madrimov, Uzbekistan