Nine Asian boxers advanced to the next stage while Levit is in the final after his great upset

Four of our boxers were guaranteed medallists in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and among them Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov advanced to the gold medal bout before the eighth competition day. Nine Asian boxers won their contests on Day 8 and advanced to the next stage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games including Kazakhstan’s Vassiliy Levit who is now in the final of the Heavyweight class (91 kg).

Men’s Flyweight class (52 kg):
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Champion experienced boxer Olzhas Sattibayev opened his participation at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games against Puerto Rico’s Jeyvier Cintron who qualified for the event from the World Series of Boxing. The Kazakh boxer kept the focus in the second round after the first tactical minutes and defeated his 21-year-old Puerto Rican rival who had Olympic experiences from London.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event winner and Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Shakhobiddin Zoirov developed well years by year in the current Olympic era. The Uzbek boxer trusted on his speed and his boxing school was stronger than Ireland’s Brendan Irvine’s background in the sport. Zoirov had stopping jabs in the opening round which determined their contest in the eighth competition day. The Uzbek boxer controlled all of the rounds and after Sattibayev he also secured his place in the last 16.
Mongolia’s Summer Universiade winner Enkh-Amar Kharkhuu returned to the world of boxing after a suspension but he qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the World Olympic Qualification Event in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Mongolian boxer was nervous in his first contest Mexico’s APB hope Elias Emigdio and did his very best only in the final round and he was not able to turn back their contest.
China’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Hu Jianguan was an unknown boxer two years ago but he proved on his international appearances he is among the bests in this weight class. The 23-year-old Chinese boxer was in different level than Turkey’s two-time Olympian Selcuk Eker mainly in the first and second rounds. Hu tried to keep his advantage in the final round and worked with counter-attacks which were dangerous for his Turkish opponent. Hu advanced to the last 16 as third Asian boxer at the Flyweight class (52 kg) in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Men’s Welterweight class (69 kg):
Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giyasov moved up to the Welterweight class (69 kg) only last year and quickly won their National Championships. The Uzbek head coach decided to take him to the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event which he won and qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Following his first success in Rio de Janeiro the Uzbek boxer defeated a seeded rival Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis and advanced to the quarter-finals. The 23-year-old Uzbek had to meet with Cuba’s London 2012 Olympic Games winner Roniel Iglesias in their quarter-finals. Giyasov exceeded the previous expectations and proved his best ever performance against the quick Cuban boxer. The new Uzbek sensation had a well-built tactic against his Olympic Champion rival and finally his hand was raised after the final bell. Giyasov is Uzbekistan’s third guaranteed medallist in the boxing tournament of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after Hasanboy Dusmatov and Rustam Tulaganov.
Thailand’s three-time Olympian veteran Saylom Ardee eliminated Belarus’ EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Pavel Kastramin due his great final round on Day2 therefore he could step into the ring once more in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. His next opponent was Bulgaria’s Simeon Chamov and the experienced Thai boxer was able to turn back the match in the same way how he did in the first preliminary round against the Belarusian. The 30-year-old Thai boxer had to meet with France’s Souleymane Cissokho who won two top bouts in the Games. Ardee was excellent in the first and third rounds and he was near to beat his French rival and advance to the semi-final. The final verdict was split decision to Cissokho therefore Ardee ranked as No.5 in the category.
Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Champion Daniyar Yeleussinov was the Best Boxer of the World in 2013 and also in 2014 therefore he was the favourite against Great Britain’s Baku 2015 European Games bronze medallist Joshua Kelly in his debuting match in Rio de Janeiro. The 25-year-old Kazakh boxer dominated all of the rounds against Kelly and advanced to the last eight in his second Olympic Games. Yeleussinov met for the guaranteed medal with Venezuela’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Gabriel Maestre. Yeleussinov is in one of his best form therefore the Venezuelan did not have any chance to beat Kazakhstan’s No.1 in the quarter-finals. Yeleussinov worked from longer distance in the first two rounds and celebrated his success after the final bell.

Men’s Heavyweight class (91 kg):
Uzbekistan’s two-time AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Rustam Tulaganov was not enough shape in the first round against Azerbaijan’s Baku 2015 European Games winner Abdulkadir Abdullayev but he tried to raise his rhythm. The Uzbek boxer was better in the second round and shared his power well enough in their top level contest which was a narrow one. Tulaganov boxed well in the last round which delivered for him a guaranteed medal in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. His next opponent was Russia’s current AIBA World Champion Evgeny Tishchenko in the semi-final. The Russian boxer had longer reaches than Tulaganov and he was able to control their contest in the last four which meant Tulaganov achieved his career highlight a bronze medal in the Olympic Games.
Kazakhstan’s WSB star Vassiliy Levit arrived to the venue of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as a medal favourite and he was able to realize his goal in the competition. The 28-year-old boxer dominated his quarter-final bout against Mauritius’ All Africa Games winner APB talent Kennedy St. Pierre and advanced to the semi-final of the Games. Levit had great AOB and WSB successes but he reached his career highlight in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with his guaranteed bronze medal. Kazakhstan’s No.1 at the Heavyweight class (91 kg) was not enough satisfied yet therefore he tried to do his best against Cuba’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Erislandy Savon. Levit wanted the go to the final therefore he was focused from the first seconds against his tough rival. Kazakhstan’s pride has done amazing job in the second round which decided their contest and Levit can box for the gold medal with Russia’s Evgeny Tishchenko.

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 tried to be quick against Romania’s APB World Champion Mihai Nistor but he had weight disadvantage in this preliminary contest. Jordan’s new pride, who was quarter-finalist in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships, moved ahead with quick attacks in the first two rounds. The Romanian boxer was great only in the final round, the referee counted Iashaish in that period but Jordan’s young hero advanced to the quarter-finals causing a great upset in the competition.
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 knocked down his South American opponent and the referee confirmed his TKO triumph.
Kazakhstan’s two-time AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Ivan Dychko met with 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. Dychko tried to move more than three years ago and avoided Majidov’s attacks successfully. The Azeri boxer injured in the second round, he could not continue the bout which was ended by Dychko’s great triumph.