Khalmetov and Amanzholov are among the winners in the Nurmakhanov Memorial Tournament

The Abdusalam Nurmakhanov Memorial Tournament was held after the Bekzat Sattarkhanov Youth Memorial Tournament also in Turkestan, Kazakhstan where WSB boxer Bekzod Khalmetov and FISU University World Champion Nursultan Amanzholov were also there among the winners.
Turkestan is a historical city and their buildings including the Mausoleum of Khoja Akhmed Yasawi are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Altogether 115 men’s elite boxers attended in the Abdusalam Nurmakhanov Memorial Tournament in Turkestan where the light welterweight (64kg) was the most popular with its 23 athletes.
Liventsev Memorial Tournament winner Taraz-based Yermek Madiyev claimed the first gold medal of the Nurmakhanov Memorial Tournament following his triumph over Aktau’s Kanagat Manatuly in the final of the light flyweight (49kg). The 22-year-old boxer is aiming for a place in the national top team therefore his gold in the Nurmakhanov Memorial Tournament was one of the step in that road.
Kyzyl-Orda’s Bakkozha Inayatullayev won his key semi-final bout against Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament bronze medallist Bagdat Tolybayev and continued his winning path against Daniyar Serik in the final of the flyweight (52kg). Inayatullayev has been competing in the international events since 2011 but his gold in the Nurmakhanov Memorial Tournament was one of his career highlight.
Olzhas Kalaubek claimed bronze medal at the 2011 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships in Astana and since then he was trying to put himself also in the spotlight. The 22-year-old bantamweight (56kg) boxer controlled all of his contests including his final against experienced Tastemir Bibosynov while ASBC Asian Youth Champion Vasiliy Samchuk lost his quarter-final in Turkestan.
Darkhan Zhumsakbayev competed at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Baku and attended in the several elite AOB tournaments in the recent years. The 25-year-old lightweight (60kg) boxer recovered from his injury and his current knowledge was enough to beat strong Bagdat Uaidayev in the semi-final and Zamanbek Danabek in the final of the Nurmakhanov Memorial Tournament.
Shymkent’s Meirzhan Pirtayev competed at the Popenchenko memorial Tournament in Russia and also a few international events in Kazakhstan in 2010 and after a long break he decided to come back to the boxing world. The returning boxer eliminated a favourite Dulat Bekbaulov in the quarter-finals and shocked Kyzyl-Orda’s experienced Ernur Olmesbek in the final of the light welterweight (64kg).
Bekzod Khalmetov raised his experiences in the World Series of Boxing in Season VI and arrived to Turkestan as the favourite of the welterweight (69kg). The 25-year-old boxer had to meet in the final with Shymkent’s Akhmet Mombekov and his performance in the final round was enough for him to win the bout by split decision.
Almaty region’s Abdaliyev Memorial Tournament winner Bayanbek Sametov had to meet in the final of the middleweight (75kg) with Taraz-based defending ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Champion 19-year-old Aman Kazankapov who joined to the elite age group only this January. Sametov’s experiences paid off in the final and won the gold medal bout by split decision against his younger rival.
A relatively unknown boxer Nauryzbek Sagimbayev claimed the gold medal of the light heavyweight (81kg) following his triumph over Karagandy’s Beknur Kaiyrbek. Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist technician Navruz Jafoev claimed only bronze medal in the event.
Former ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Champion Adilet Orynbasarov walked over against Tajikistan’s former ASBC Asian Champion Jakhon Qurbonov, defeated Uzbekistan’s former Youth National Champion Aziz Shukurov and Abzal Kuttybekov in the final of the heavyweight. The 22-year-old talented Orynbasarov proved he is among Kazakhstan’s future hopes in this weight class.
FISU University World Champion Nursultan Amanzholov walked over to the final following his semi-final against Kanagat Akhmedov who was not able to fight against him. Amanzholov defeated Nurlan Nurseitov while Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Abdulla Khudorganov and Tajikistan’s Singapore 2010 Youth Olympian Siyovush Zukhurov all missed to get any medal in the event.

List of the winners in the Nurmakhanov Memorial Tournament
49kg: Yermek Madiyev, Kazakhstan
52kg: Bakkozha Inayatullayev, Kazakhstan
56kg: Olzhas Kalaubek, Kazakhstan
60kg: Darkhan Zhumsakbayev, Kazakhstan
64kg: Meirzhan Pirtayev, Kazakhstan
69kg: Bekzod Khalmetov, Kazakhstan
75kg: Bayanbek Sametov, Kazakhstan
81kg: Nauryzbek Sagimbayev, Kazakhstan
91kg: Adilet Orynbasarov, Kazakhstan
+91kg: Nursultan Amanzholov, Kazakhstan