Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov advanced to the final on Day11 in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Asia had nine guaranteed medals after the tenth competition day at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games but our continent’s top athletes could raise this figure up to 13 today. Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov advanced to the gold medal bout of the Men’s Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) in another exciting day in Rio de Janeiro.
Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg):
China’s three-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Ren Cancan arrived to the venue of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as one of the gold medal contender of this weight class. The 28-year-old Chinese boxer had to do her very best against Canada’s two-time Panamerican Games winner Mandy Bujold. The Chinese boxer took the lead after two minutes and proved top performance in the third round when she could overtake the Canadian attacks. Ren had such a strong opponent in the quarter-finals but she was able to solve that tactical issue which means she is a guaranteed medallist in Rio as well.
Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Peamwilai Laopeam opened her participation in the Olympic Games against Colombia’s AIBA American Olympic Qualification Event runner-up Ingrit Valencia. The veteran Thai boxer, who is competing in her last competition, was not enough shape this time, tried to avoid the Colombian punches but she could not repeat her previous performance.
Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova and France’s Sarah Ourahmoune both achieved bronze medals in the last edition of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Astana. The Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Kazakh boxer did a real fighting spirit against such an effective opponent as the French veteran. Shekerbekova could not advance to the semi-final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following her loss to her European rival.
Men’s Bantamweight class (56 kg):
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 and Belarus’ AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dzmitry Asanau in the previous stages of the Games. The Mongolian had to meet with another teenage hope United States’ Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner Shakur Stevenson. The US boxer did not lose any contests in the recent one year and used his longer hands against the Mongolian youngster. Stevenson won their contest therefore the 19-year-old Mongolian ranked as No.5 in his first Olympic Games.
China’s two-time Asian Games silver medallist Zhang Jiawei opened his participation against an Asian boxer in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, South Korea’s Ham Sang Myeong. 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 preliminary contest. The Chinese boxer had to box in the quarter-finals against Cuba’s London 2012 Olympic Games winner Robeisy Ramirez but his efforts were not enough to do surprise today. The Cuban shocked him in the first round with his amazing footwork therefore the Chinese boxer have to travel back to home with a lack of any medal.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliev is one of the gold medal contender of the Men’s Bantamweight class (56 kg) in the Games. The Uzbek boxer controlled his opening bout against Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kairat Yeraliyev in his debuting match. The 22-year-old Uzbek hope continued his competition against Argentina’s APB boxer Alberto Melian and did not give any chance to his South American rival. Akhmadaliev knocked down his Argentinean opponent with an amazing punch and finished their contest before the end of the first round.
Men’s Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
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. Hu Qianxun continued his great fighting spirit against Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov and turned back their fight which means the Chinese No.1 could meet with Russia’s AIBA World Champion Vitaly Dunaytsev for the medal. The Chinese boxer attacked from the first seconds but the 24-year-old Dunaytsev was the better boxer in their contest.
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. 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. Gaibnazarov’s next task for the guaranteed medal was a hard job against United States’ 19-year-old Gary Russell who came from a boxing family. The Uzbek boxer had effective punches in the first round and took the lead in all judges. Gaibnazarov felt the rhythm in the second and in spite of the US attacks in the third round he was able to advance to the semi-finals as fifth Uzbek boxer in Rio.
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. The Kazakh boxer dominated his next contest against Azerbaijan’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist 23-year-old Teymur Mammadov who moved down to this category. Niyazymbetov tried to keep his focus in the semi-final against Great Britain’s Joshua Buatsi who is one of the stronger boxer in the weight class. The Kazakh boxer proved top quality of boxing and he knew the weak points of the promising British talent in their bout. Niyazymbetov had successful jabs and he speed was the difference in their contest which meant he advanced to the gold medal bout where his next opponent will be Cuba’s three-time AIBA World Champion Julio Cesar La Cruz.
Men’s Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):
Jordan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Hussein Iashaish was the flag bearer of their team in the Opening Ceremony. The 21-year-old boxer did a big sensation when he defeated Romania’s APB World Champion Mihai Nistor and Jordan’s young hero advanced to the quarter-finals causing a great upset in the competition. Iashaish, who was quarter-finalist in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships, had to meet for the medal with France’s Seed No.1 Tony Yoka. Jordan’s best hope for a medal was brave against the French star and attacked from the first seconds trying to get closer to his opponent. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the French favourite but Iashaish proved he could be a great future hope in our sport.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Bakhodir Jalolov was the Central Asian nation’s flag bearer in the Opening Ceremony and in the eighth competition day he could finally stepped into the ring. Jalolov has got perfect physical condition in his weight class and as expected he dominated his first fight over Venezuela’s Edgar Ramon Munoz in Rio de Janeiro. The 22-year-old Uzbek had a top rival for the guaranteed medal as he had to meet with Great Britain’s Baku 2015 European Games winner Joseph Joyce. Jalolov was quicker than his opponent who launched tough punches in the bout and caught the tall Uzbek boxer a few times. Jalolov was not able to keep Joyce’s rhythm in their nine minutes long bout therefore his European opponent advanced to the semi-finals.
Kazakhstan’s two-time AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Ivan Dychko eliminated Azerbaijan’s two-time AIBA World Champion Mahammadrasul Majidov which was the repeat match of the final of the Almaty 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships. London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Dychko advanced to the quarter-finals where he had to meet with Nigeria’s All Africa Games winner native talent Efe Ajagba. Dychko won all of the rounds against the strong Nigerian using his speed and quicker attacks to advance to the semi-finals of the category.