Kazakhstan is the most successful Asian nation after the semi-finals of the AIBA World Boxing Championships

The 26 semi-finals were held in the tenth competition day at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia where the program has been divided into two sessions. Kazakhstan impressed in the day of the semi-finals and four of their boxers are finalists while Japan has got two, Uzbekistan and Thailand Boxing Federation both one in the title bouts.

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Thailand Boxing Federation, Japan, India and Iran earned 14 medals for the Asian continent in the AIBA World Boxing Championships.  Altogether 36 Asian boxers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Thailand Boxing Federation, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Iran and Jordan advanced to the quarter-finals.

The following 20 Asian nations are attending in the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Belgrade: Fair Chance Team, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Boxing Federation, Tajikistan, Chinese Taipei, and Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan’s first finalist is Temirtas Zhussupov

Kazakhstan’s Temirtas Zhussupov achieved gold medal at the Amman 2013 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships and after a short break he could return to the top national team. The 33-year-old Kazakh faced with Uzbekistan’s two-time ASBC Asian Champion Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov in the important quarter-final at the minimumweight (48kg) and he succeeded. The Kazakh veteran found hid best fighting distance in time against Belarus’ Yauheni Karmilchyk in the semi-finals and from the second round, he performed superbly. Zhussupov was highly confident in the third round and eliminated his Belarusian rival by unanimous decision in Belgrade.  

Thailand Boxing Federation’s Wuttichai Yurachai competes for the gold

Thailand Boxing Federation’s experienced Wuttichai Yurachai moved back to the minimumweight (48kg) and the 29-year-old boxer arrived to the AIBA World Boxing Championships with upgraded defensive and tactical skills. The experienced Thai met eliminated Japan’s Kazuma Aratake in the quarter-finals and he opened his campaign better than Georgia’s Sakhil Alakhverdovi in the last four. Yurachai used his distance effectively and jumped in to land his shots against the Georgian who could not find the best weapon against the Thai. Yurachai played his own game and very best therefore he became Thailand Boxing Federation’s first finalist in Belgrade.

Kazakhstan’s second finalist is Mahmud Sabyrkhan

Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabyrkhan is three-times ASBC Asian Champion as junior and youth therefore he was named as one of the biggest talents in the country. Sabyrkhan has got also almost unbeaten record in the elite level despite of his age of 20 and after the strong preparations, he arrived as favourite of the bantamweight (54kg). He found the best fighting distance quickly in the first minute against India’s lone semi-finalist, Akash Kumar and took the lead on the scorecards. Sabyrkhan was more active in the attacks and the Indian could not reach the quick Kazakh youngster therefore he advanced also the final following Temirtas Zhussupov.

Japan’s Tomoya Tsuboi reached his career highlight

Japan’s Tomoya Tsuboi joined to the elite national team in 2015 when he competed in the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Sometimes Ryomei Tanaka, Tosho Kashiwasaki or Ryusei Baba were better than him in the recent years therefore he worked hard in the gym to regain his place in the national team. He arrived to the venue of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in his best ever shape and he was ready to make a surprise. Tsuboi advanced to the semi-final after beating strong opponents and he has done an amazing performance against France’s Billal Bennama. The French could not use his long range tactic in their semi-final due to Tsuboi’s impressive power and speed attacks therefore Japan has got a finalist in Belgrade.

Okazawa and Zhussupov produced an amazing semi-final

Japan’s Sewon Okazawa was silver medallist in the Bangkok 2019 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships but since then he has been shining in the international stage and arrived to Belgrade as one of the favourites at the welterweight (67kg). Following his hard opening in the event, the 26-year-old Japanese was getting better rounds by rounds and he impressed in the semi-final against Kazakhstan’s two-time AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Ablaikhan Zhussupov. The Kazakh and the Japanese boxers had the same fighting style but Okazawa was slightly better in that tactical game to win the bout.

Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossynov eliminated his fourth top opponent at the flyweight

Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossynov eliminated Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov, India’s Deepak and Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez during his road to the semi-finals at the flyweight (51kg). The 24-year-old Kazakh claimed bronze medal at the Yekaterinburg 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships and met with Thailand Boxing Federation’s 19-year-old Thanarat Saengphet in the last four to get his place in the final. The Kazakh boxer started the first round better and landed a few nice shots but the Thai teenager was highly competitive, especially in the third. Bibossynov had enough advantage to beat Saengphet and advanced to the final where he will now meet with United States’ Roscoe Hill.

Kazakhstan’s fourth finalist is Serik Temirzhanov

Kazakhstan’s Serik Temirzhanov joined to the elite national team in the end of 2019 following his successes in the international tournaments. The Pavlodar-based Kazakh boxer had some unexpected losses this year but he learnt a lot on those bouts and impressed in the AIBA World Boxing Championships. Temirzhanov eliminated all of his top opponents by large margin of differences and he has done strong performance also against Cuba’s Osvel Caballero. The referee counted the Cuban in the end of the first round which guaranteed his advantage after three minutes and Temirzhanov was able to keep it until the last gong.“Temirzhanov is a very good boxer, we worked with him a lot and we expected that he can beat the Cuban today,” added his coach, Mr. Azamat Makazhanov.

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