Kulibayev Tournament – Semi-finals
06 July, 2015
World class semi-finals in the Kulibayev Tournament
The Kulibayev Tournament had world class semi-finals in the city of Atyrau, Kazakhstan where the top 20 boxers remained in the competition. Besides to the top nations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, Jordan and Syria also have got finalists in Atyrau.
Light Flyweight class (49 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Turat Osmonov lost his place in the top squad of the country therefore he has arrived to Atyrau in top shape to change the mind of their head coach Mr. Adylkan Bekbolotov. The 22-year-old boxer was too smart for Ukraine’s Nazar Kurotchin and advanced to the final of the Kulibayev Tournament. Osmonov will now meet for the gold medal with Mongolia’s Bocskai Memorial Tournament silver medallist Gankhuyag Ganerdene who eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s two-time National Champion young hope Rakhmankul Avatov who won the Taimanov & Utemisov Memorial Tournament in Atyrau in April.
Flyweight class (52 kg):
Kazakhstan’s Olzhas Bayniyazov delivered one of the main sensation of the semi-finals of the Kulibayev Tournament in Atyrau where he defeated Kyrgyzstan’s current ASBC Asian Continental Champion Azat Usenaliyev in a hectic bout. Bayniyazov will be fighting for the gold medal with Uzbekistan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Shakhobiddin Zoirov who defeated Kazakhstan’s Taimanov & Utemisov Memorial Tournament winner Rashid Salauatov in the second semi-final of the category.
Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Continental Championships bronze medallist Omurbek Malabekov raised his experiences in the World Series of Boxing where he is member of the Ukrainian Otamans franchise. The 24-year-old boxer known well Ukraine’s Oleg Dovhun and tried to control the bout from the first round. The Kyrgyz boxer had serious attacks in the final round when his opponent injured and the ringside doctor stopped the bout. His final opponent will be Kazakhstan’s Asylbek Uzakbayev for the gold medal.
Lightweight class (60 kg):
Mongolia’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai and Tajikistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Anvar Yunusov had to fight in the semi-final of the category which was a top bout in the competition day. Otgondalai was a bit effective than his veteran Tajik opponent and won the bout by split decision. The Mongolian boxer will now meet for the gold with Kyrgyzstan’s Incheon 2014 Asian Games competitor Akzhol Sulaymanbek Uulu who is fighting to regain his place in the national team.
Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
Syria’s ASBC Asian Youth Continental Championships silver medallist Ahmad Ghossoun is a teenage star in the Western Asian region who shocked a local favourite, Kazakhstan’s Kambar Giniyatov in the semi-final of the busy weight class. Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Continental Championships bronze medallist Ermek Sakenov eliminated Mongolia’s Military World Champion strong Battarsukh Chinzorig in a world class bout which means Ghossoun has to meet with him in the final of the division.
Welterweight class (69 kg):
Kazakhstan’s Taimanov & Utemisov Memorial Tournament winner Amandyk Manashev had some warm moments against Ukraine’s former Youth National Champion Serhiy Bohachuk but finally he could solve that tactical issue using his great motivation and fighting spirit. Manashev will be fighting for the gold medal with Uzbekistan’s Odil Aslonov who eliminated Syria’s multiple National Champion veteran Abdelmouen Aziz who is member of the national team since 2006.
Middleweight class (75 kg):
Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziyev won the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games and the AIBA Youth World Championships last year and he joined to the elite level in January. The 19-year-old boxer won his three elite tournaments since then and dominated his fight against Kazakhstan’s strong Zhandos Khayrullayev in Atyrau. Melikuziyev won all of the rounds in the semi-final and will now face for the gold with Russia’s Vladislav Fedyurin who triumphed over Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Youth Continental Championships silver medallist Saparbay Aydarov in the second semi-final of the weight class.
Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):
Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Continental Champion Shukhrat Abdullayev moved up to the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) some months ago and following some poor years during his career he returned to the spotlight. He shocked his veteran teammate, AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Elshod Rasulov in the semi-final of the Atyrau event and advanced to the final. Shukhrat Abdullayev will now meet with Kazakhstan’s Abzal Kuttybekov in the gold medal bout therefore he needs only one further successful step to reach the top of the podium.
Heavyweight class (91 kg):
Kyrgyzstan’s Nurmagambetov Tournament winner Chyngyz Borbashev and Jordan’s ASBC Asian Continental Championships silver medallist Ihab Darweish Al-Matbouli delivered a big battle in the day of the semi-finals in Atyrau. Both of them joined to the national team in 2006 therefore their experiences were enough to find the best fighting distance during the bout. Borbashev proved top performance this time and eliminated his rival from Jordan winning the contest by split decision. His final opponent will be a top one, Syria’s rising star Alaaldin Ghossoun who was too strong for Ukraine’s Rostyslav Arkhipenko.
Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):
Uzbekistan’s two-time Asian Games competitor Mirzohidjon Abdullayev walked over to the final of the weight class as his opponent from Kazakhstan, Esenali Shungarin could not fight against him. In the second semi-final of the category Jordan’s ASBC Asian Youth Continental Championships bronze medallist Hussein Iashaish eliminated Ukraine’s Igor Shevadzutskiy in a tight bout. The Western Asian boxer moved in a different rhythm than his Ukrainian opponent and following his great actions he could win that bout.