Kazakhstan’s Yerassyl Yermek won the battle of the ASBC Asian Junior Champions today

Twenty youth quarter-final bouts were held in the sixth competition day of the ASBC Asian Youth & Junior Boxing Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ASBC Asian Junior Champions, Yerassyl Yermek of Kazakhstan and Abdurakhim Yokubov of Tajikistan have done a fantastic semi-final which was won by the 17-year-old Kazakh today.

The number of the junior boxers is 152 while 141 youth athletes are competing in the Dubai event. Altogether 293 boxers including 84 girls are attending in the ASBC Asian Youth & Junior Boxing Championships. The Technical Delegate of the competition is Mrs. Marina Ni of Kazakhstan who supports the success of the event.

Fifteen nations sent their boxers to the ASBC Asian Youth & Junior Boxing Championships in Dubai: Bahrain, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Mongolia, Nepal, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. The competition is streamed in the ASBC YouTube channel and the fans can follow all of the sessions in the upcoming nearly two weeks.

The company of Green Hill is the official equipment provider as in the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships which is a money prize event, all of the medallists can earn cash prizes. Altogether record number of 51 champions will be crowned in the ASBC Asian Youth & Junior Boxing Championships, 25 girls and 26 boys.

Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay has done revenge after his previous loss

Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay claimed gold medal at the Kielce 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships this April but he lost to Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadkodir Mamirjonov in an international event in Belarus on February. The Kazakh southpaw had a strong strategy and tried to work from longer distance and he used different rhythm this time as in their last meeting. Both boxers are tall ones at the men’s light flyweight (48kg) and their tactical and technical knowledge were similar in the world class level. Tashkenbay was patient, he had strong defence today and landed enough counter-shots to leave the ring after this important semi-final as the winner. Tashkenbay has done a revenge for his previous loss and advanced to the final of the weight class as first youth boxer in the competition.

Iraq’s first youth finalist is Mohamed Anwar Makassees

Iraq’s Mohammed Anwar Makassees competed already at the Fujairah 2019 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships and his experiences paid off against Kuwait’s Naser Khazal in their featherweight (57kg) quarter-final. The Iraqi talent met with Iran’s Poorya Saeidi who walked over to the last four following his local opponent was unable to box against him. Saeidi was taller and more fresh than his Iraqi rival but Makassees tried to use his attacking style to reduce the fighting distance. Saeidi was 15cm taller but he was not enough quick to use it therefore fights were on the focus instead of tactical skills. Makassees amazed in the final round, he produced a fantastic finish which was enough to win the semi-final and celebrated his emotional success in Dubai.

Yermek and Yokubov made a remarkable semi-final battle on Day6

Tajikistan’s Abdurakhim Yokubov and another 17-year-old talent, Kazakhstan’s Yerassyl Yermek both won the Fujairah 2019 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships two years ago. The Tajik boxer eliminated India’s experienced Rabichandra Singh while Yermek turned back his quarter-final against Uzbekistan’s Aydos Tagaybayev. Following their tough quarter-finals, they met each other in the last four in another crucial battle which delivered a tactical first round between them. Yokubov has done an impressive last 20 seconds in the first round and won the opening three minutes in each of the scorecard. The 17-year-old Kazakh moved ahead more in the second round and he has done more risk in their semi-final therefore the final verdict was depended on the last period. Yokubov landed some excellent shots in the third but Yermek was fresh enough to win their remarkable battle today.

Uzbekistan’s Samandar Solijonov eliminated his Indian opponent with great start

Following Vanshaj’s easy semi-final success at the light welterweight (63.5kg) over his tall Iranian rival, another Indian boxer had to compete in the sixth day, Daksh Singh, who met with Uzbekistan’s Samandar Solijonov today. The Uzbek welterweight (67kg) boxer started the first round with tough hooks and his left was dangerous in all of the exchanges. Solijonov was confident and landed punches from all of the angles and he scored whenever the Indian started to launch his attacks. The Uzbek was faster in the first and second rounds therefore he had massive advantage after six minutes of fight therefore he could save some power in the final period before his gold medal bout.

Abdullaev turned back his semi-final against his Kazakh rival

Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Alokhon Abdullaev and Kazakhstan’s Arman Armanuly both have got impressive power and more than 100 bouts during their career. The Uzbek light middleweight (71kg) boxer caught Armanuly with tough punches but his Kazakh opponent also maintained the best fighting distance still in the first round. The Uzbek southpaw was more patient and waited for the best attacking moments when his single jabs reached the target. All of the scorecards showed 19:19 after two rounds and Abdullaev started the third better and following his tough jab, the South Korean referee counted Armanuly. Abdullaev dominated the last round and his efforts were enough to turn back the contest in one of the most exciting bouts of the day.

Kazakhstan’s Temirlan Mukatayev controlled his semi-final at the new cruiserweight

Kyrgyzstan’s Argen Baktybekov claimed silver medal at the Fujairah 2019 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships at the age of 15 and won the super heavyweight (+91kg) in their 2021 Youth National Championships. The 17-year-old Kyrgyz is not a tall boxer therefore he moved down to the cruiserweight (86kg) but he was still smaller than Kazakhstan’s Temirlan Mukatayev. His neighbouring rival started the bout better and caught Baktybekov with tough shots in the first round. The Iranian referee counted the Kyrgyz boy in the middle of the second round and Mukatayev worked enough to win their semi-final.

Tokhirov destroyed his rival in the semi-final of the heavyweight

Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Junior Champion Nusratbek Tokhirov destroyed all of his opponents in the recent two years and he opened his semi-final at the youth heavyweight (91kg) with confident style. The 18-year-old Uzbek ruled the middle of the ring, and he landed powerful body shots which was uncomfortable for India’s Abhimanyu Loura today. The taller Indian was not enough quick to avoid the Uzbek punches therefore Tokhirov had strong advantage after two rounds. Tokhirov demonstrated his impressive power and won all of the three rounds against the experienced Indian, marching into the final.

Uzbekistan’s next finalist is Jakhongir Zokirov

Uzbekistan’s Jakhongir Zokirov is the defending AIBA Youth World Champion at the super heavyweight (+91kg) and he claimed gold also at the Fujairah 2019 ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships. The 200cm tall Uzbek controlled the first round from longer distance against India’s Aman Singh and used his athletic skills. His father, Lazizbek Zokirov competed for Uzbekistan in the second part of the 1990s but Jakhongir is even a bigger talent in our sport. The 18-year-old Uzbek played with his small Indian opponent and dominated all of the three rounds in their contest. Zokirov saved his fuel for the final and his high number of jabs stopped the Indian therefore he can box for the title.

Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova enjoyed her return to the national team

Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Women’s Junior Champion Sabina Bobokulova regained her place in the national team and opened her campaign in Dubai at the new flyweight (50kg). The 18-year-old talent, who trains with coach Ulugbek Baratov, caught her Kazakh opponent, Gulnar Turapbay already in the first round and took the lead on the scorecards. Bobokulova enjoyed her comeback to the national team and the small Uzbek was aggressive in their semi-final and won the contest by unanimous decision.

Preeti Dahiya won the narrowest female semi-final

India’s Preeti Dahiya claimed gold medal at the Fujairah 2019 ASBC Asian Women’s Junior Boxing Championships therefore she was named as the main favourite for the gold medal at the lightweight (60kg). The Indian girl was not enough shape against Uzbekistan’s Rukhshona Uktamova in the first round and received punches from her opponent who also competed in Fujairah. Preeti Dahiya was smarter in the second round and returned to the semi-final remaining her chance to win the bout. Both landed several effective punches in the third round and the Indian won the narrowest female bout of the day.

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