Hasanboy Dusmatov is Uzbekistan’s second Olympic Champion in boxing
Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov was amazing in the first final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Men’s Light Flyweight class (49 kg) and took the first gold medal of our beloved combat sport in Rio de Janeiro. Besides to Uzbekistan’s wonderful gold medal further of our hopes have done one step to their dreams.
Women’s Middleweight class (75 kg):
Chinese Taipei’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Chen Nien Chin achieved bronze medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Astana but she was not enough concentrated against Russia’s Iaroslava Iakushina who is an experienced boxer in this category. Chen found the best fighting distance only in the third round but Iakushina was better this time.
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Dariga Shakimova is an experienced boxer who had to meet with Canada’s former two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Ariane Fortin in the second bout of the Middleweight class (75 kg). Shakimova was great in the opening round and in spite of her third two minutes when she was not enough close in defence she could win the narrow fight with the smallest possible difference.
Men’s Light Flyweight class (49 kg):
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Champion Hasanboy Dusmatov defeated his main rival Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Champion Birzhan Zhakypov in the quarter-final stage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The 23-year-old Uzbek boxer defeated United States’ Nico Hernandez in the semi-final of the category and repeated his previous top performance in their contest. The Uzbek boxer was too quick for the US talent therefore Dusmatov could box for the gold medal against Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez in the final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Dusmatov stepped into the ring with great confidence and dominated his final contest which was easy one for the Uzbek boxer. The Colombian could not reach Dusmatov whose counter-attacks were successful and finally he could celebrate his well-deserved gold medal. After Makhammatkodir Abdullaev’s success in 2000 Dusmatov is the second Olympic Champion in boxing since the country became independent.
Men’s Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Thailand’s current ASBC Asian Champion Chatchai Butdee has got Olympic experiences from London and tried to keep the focus until the final bell against Great Britain’s Qais Ashfaq in his opening contest. Thailand’s pride defeated his European rival and advanced to the last 16 in Rio de Janeiro where his next opponent was Russia’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Vladimir Nikitin. Butdee tried to control their contest and launched great punches but finally the Russian’s hand was raised.
Mongolia’s 19-year-old Erdenebat Tsendbaatar is one of the main future hope of the strong country who achieved three national elite titles in spite of his age. The Mongolian talent eliminated Kenya’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist veteran Benson Gicharu Njangiru who qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from the APB/WSB Olympic Qualification Event. The Mongolian met in his second bout with Belarus’ AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dzmitry Asanau and he wanted so much to win that contest. Tsendbaatar had an aggressive style and pressurized his European opponent who did not reach the Mongolian. Tsendbaatar won his second bout and advanced to the quarter-final of the category.
South Korea’s Ham Sang Myeong received the right to box in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games only in the final minute but he tried to prepare well to his first contest in the Riocentro Pavilion 6. He eliminated Venezuela’s 21-year-old Victor Rodriguez who is the most inexperienced of the South American team. The lone South Korean boxer met in the next round with China’s Zhang Jiawei which was their second contest after the Asian Games. The Chinese boxer was in different level than his Korean opponent and won all of the rounds with large margin of difference using his speed in their contest.
Kazakhstan’s Kairat Yeraliyev lost to Azerbaijan’s Javid Chalabiyev in the semi-final of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in 2013 but he did revenge against his APB opponent. Yeraliyev advanced to the last 16 in Rio where he met with Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliev. The Uzbek boxer controlled the first two rounds with his pressurized attacks and his advantage was enough to eliminate Kazakhstan’s No.1 on their re-match.
Men’s Lightweight class (60 kg):
Mongolia’s Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai is the current Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Confederation Champion who had great target in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which he could realize with his semi-final place. The 28-year-old Mongolian had a close but winning bout against Netherlands’ Enrico La Cruz and Algeria’s Reda Benbaziz in the road to the semi-finals. Otgondalai impressive performance in the first days of the category which meant Mongolia could secure its first boxing medal in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Mongolian veteran had to meet for the gold medal bout with France’s Sofiane Oumiha who is in top form this year. The Mongolian boxer felt the rhythm in their contest, watched his movements carefully but Oumiha was quicker in their contest. Otgondalai did his very best but finally his efforts delivered for him a bronze medal in the Olympic Games.
Men’s Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
Mongolia’s AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event silver medallist Baatarsukh Chinzorig had to meet with another Asian opponent, Qatar’s Thulasi Tharumalingam in the first preliminary round. Chinzorig was in different level than his Western Asian rival and advanced to the last 16 where his next rival was Russia’s AIBA World Champion Vitaly Dunaytsev in Rio de Janeiro. The Russian boxer was able to win their contest by unanimous decision against the Mongolian who competed in his first Olympic Games.
China’s Hu Qianxun claimed bronze medal and won his important Box-off at the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event in Qian’an which was enough for him to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Chinese boxer walked over to the second preliminary round without any bout due Mexico’s WSB talent Raul Curiel was not able to get a successful daily medical check in the morning. His next job in the boxing tournament was held against Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov who began their bout better than the Chinese hope. Hu Qianxun continued the bout in different rhythm and turned back their fight which means the Chinese No.1 will be meeting with Russia’s Vitaly Dunaytsev for the medal.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Fazliddin Gaibnazarov had an easy opening bout against Congo’s Dival Forele Malonga Dzalamou who replaced Morocco’s Hamza El-Berbari in the last minute. Gaibnazarov knocked down three-times his African opponent therefore the referee confirmed his TKO success. The London 2012 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Uzbek boxer had stronger opponent as second as he had to meet with India’s former Commonwealth Games winner and London 2012 Olympian Manoj Kumar. Gaibnazarov worked in different level and advanced to the quarter-finals once again in his second Olympic Games.
Thailand’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Confederation Champion Wuttichai Masuk arrived to the venue of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as a medal contender and tried to do his very best against United States’ Gary Russell. The Thai boxer was great in the second round and launched better punches in that period than his US rival. Unexpectedly the US boxer’s hand was raised after the final bell therefore Masuk have to travel back to home without any medal.
Men’s Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):
Kazakhstan’s London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist and Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Adilbek Niyazymbetov was not enough shape last year therefore he duplicated his efforts in the recent months. The 27-year-old Kazakh boxer was too strong for Belarus’ Mikhail Dauhaliavets and advanced to the quarter-final stage of his second Olympic Games. Niyazymbetov’s form is much better than in the recent competitions and proved he could be Kazakhstan’s next medallist in Rio. The Kazakh boxer had to meet with Azerbaijan’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist 23-year-old Teymur Mammadov who moved down to this category. Niyazymbetov was patient and he tried to work carefully against his taller rival in their contest. The Kazakh star overcame Azerbaijan’s top athlete in the attacks and his speed delivered for him a guaranteed Olympic medal.