Jitpong, Usmonov, Bayikewuzi and Odayev are among the stars of Day7 in Italy
Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong, Tajikistan’s Bakhodur Usmonov, Turkmenistan’s Saparmyrat Odayev, China’s Danabieke Bayikewuzi and many others won their key contests on the seventh competition day at the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the 26 participating Asian countries in Busto Arsizio.
Thailand’s World silver medallist Jutamas Jitpong was patient in the first round against Japan’s southpaw Mikoto Harada and she looked for the best counter-attacking moments. Harada was not able to reach Jitpong in the second round despite her attacks and the Thai bantamweight (54kg) boxer’s speed decided their Round of 16 bout. Jitpong will be boxing for the quota with United States’ Hawaii-based Shera Mae Patricio in the quarter-finals.
Uzbekistan’s reigning ASBC Champion at the women’s welterweight (66kg), Navbakhor Khamidova was quicker in the exchanges than Netherlands’ Luna Beeloo and she had a fantastic finish in the last 10 seconds of the first round. The 23-year-old Uzbek continued her well-focused performance in the second round and she accomplished her next objective, joining the quarter-finals in Busto Arsizio.
Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien Chin switched her stance several times in the first round to find the best angles against Morocco’s former kick-boxer Saida Lahmidi. The World Champion and Asian Champion Chen ruled the middle of the ring and she found the holes between Lahmidi’s gloves. The Moroccan landed several combinations without effect and Chen managed to join the last eight in this World Qualifier.
Kazakhstan’s former World Champion Valentina Khalzova found the best attacking moments against Turkey’s Busra Isildar in the first round of their women’s middleweight (75kg) battle. Khalzova’s right-handed hooks were dangerous in their meeting and she controlled this Round of 16 bout well enough to beat the younger Turkish opponent.
Another powerful Central Asian in this women’s middleweight (75kg), Uzbekistan’s 19-year-old Aziza Zokirova managed to win her bout against Ukraine’s Karolina Makhno due to her first and second rounds. The two-time Asian Youth Champion Uzbek saved fuel for the quarter-finals in the third round and she needs only one further step to qualify for Paris.
Turkmenistan exceeded all of the expectations with their performance in the previous days of the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event. Their Saparmyrat Odayev, the 2018 Asian Youth Boxing Championships, delivered virtuoso style of boxing against Poland’s Bartlomiej Roskowicz in the first round. The 23-year-old Turkmen was better in all aspects of boxing and he won their light welterweight (63.5kg) contest in Italy.
Jordan’s Obada Al-Kasbeh, the two-time Asian Championships silver medallist, qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games but he is aiming for his second spot after eight years. Jordan’s pride was energetic and he had better footwork than Uganda’s Joshua Tukamuhebwa and he had 20:18 advantage in all of the scorecards after two rounds. The 30-year-old veteran from Jordan did not make any huge risks in the third round and he secured his place in the quarter-finals at the light welterweight (63.5kg).
Uzbekistan’s Lazizbek Mullojonov moved down to the heavyweight (92kg) successfully and he claimed a bronze medal in the World Championships immediately. The 25-year-old Uzbek was too quick and smart for Togo’s France-based Kevin Kuadjovi who returned to the international stage after a break. Mullojonov dominated all of the three rounds with his faster jabs and the Uzbek advanced to the quarter-finals in Italy.
Bahrain’s Tokyo Olympian Denys Latypov had a hard battle at the super heavyweight (+92kg) against Ireland’s native talent Martin McDonagh today. Bahrain’s ex-Russian pride and historic boxer won the first and second rounds closely on the judges’ scorecards and he had still the power in the third as well. His left-handed jabs and right hooks were effective in the third round to beat the Irish boxer by 3:2 split decision in this Round of 16 contest.
Vietnam’s Vo Thi Kim Anh, the winner of the 2022 Thailand Open, impressed in the first round against Hungary’s Hanna Lakotar and she was able to continue until the last gong in this women’s bantamweight (54kg) meeting. South Korea’s Im Ae Ji eliminated Chinese Taipei’s two-time World Champion Huang Hsiao Wen in a hectic contest which was the most unexpected result of the day. Tajikistan’s Bakhodur Usmonov, the 2019 Asian Champion, is now near to his second Olympic Games following his tight success over Cuba’s Erislandy Alvarez at the men’s light welterweight (63.5kg). Another strong Asian boxer, China’s Danabieke Bayikewuzi also defeated a Cuban star, the World silver medallist Fernando Arzola at the super heavyweight (+92kg) in the last bout of the day.
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