PHILIPPINES AND KAZAKHSTAN THE BESTS IN SUBIC BAY

Asia’s leading boxing nation Kazakhstan and the host of the ASBC Asian Youth Championships made incredible performance in the last competition day when both countries bagged four gold medals while China and Uzbekistan also secured one top position in the fantastic event in Subic Bay.

In the opening final of the ASBC Asian Youth Championships Philippines’ AIBA Youth World Championships Jade Bornea met with Japan’s Kosei Tanaka who eliminated his old rival India’s AIBA Youth World Championships bronze medallist Lalitha Prasad Polipalli in the semi-finals here in Subic Bay. Both boxers made excellent footwork during the battle which was not only a narrow battle but a world class fight as well. The result table showed equal points on both side after six minutes but Bornea turned up the heat and his efforts resulted for him an Asian title in the front of the local fans.

Philippines’ President’s Cup silver medallist Ian Clark Bautista was the second opportunity of the host nation to get another gold medal on home soil. The 18-year-old boxer met with Uzbekistan’s new youth national team member Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov who could advance to the final of the flyweight class in his second international competition. Bautista led by 6:3 after the first round while he had a serious right blow which is reached the target area in the second frame and following that the Uzbek fighter could not show his previous performance which meant the Philippines achieved another gold medal in Subic Bay. The coaches of the Filipino national squad former Asian Champion Romeo Brin and Elmer Pamisa worked well enough with the team before the continental event and its fruits brought another gold for the Philippines.

Japan’s flagbearer of the youth national team is Kenji Fujita who claimed a gold medal in the Taiwan City Cup last September and did excellent quality of boxing in the ASBC Asian Youth Championships as well. His final rival was Kazakhstan’s Shokhr Boltekuly Tournament winner Kanat Koptleuov who is competing in his first big boxing tournament. Both bantamweight fighters tried several body shots in the opening round while the Japanese southpaw boxer had an excellent combination in the first minutes. Koptleuov had some more effective punches and led by 7:4 after six minutes therefore Fujita stepped into the gas but he could not repeat his previous performance which meant Kazakhstan secured its first gold medal in Subic Bay.

Philippines’ new sensation James Palicte have already won four contests in Subic Bay and despite of his low experiences he could advance to the gold medal battle where he ha d a Chinese opponent Liu Xiaoshuai who was the youngest boxer in the finals. The Filipino lightweight boxer had to watch to his defense in the first minute because of the attacks of the Chinese athlete. Palicte adopted the rhythm of the contest very quickly and led by 5:4 after three minutes fight. Liu Xiaoshuai tried to control their battle in the second frame and the difference kept the same while both boxers fought well enough in the final round but only one of them could win the lightweight title. Palicte’s counter-attacks were successful in the last round therefore the third gold medal goes to the Philippines while 17-year-old Liu Xiaoshuai will be able to compete in the next 2014 ASBC Asian Youth Championships as well.

Philippines’ AIBA Junior World Champion Eumir Felix Marcial finishing most of his contests before the final gong and he was ready to get a further gold medal for himself and for his nation as well. The second boxer who could advance to the light welterweight class was Mongolia’s most experienced youth team member Batzorig Otgonjargal who has been boxing since 2008. Marcial’s hand looked like as a real hammer and his dominancy in the first round resulted for him a comfortable leading against the tall Mongolian fighter. The host nation’s boxer dominated the second frame as well therefore his victory was a clear story in Subic Bay. Marcial’s final triumph was the fourth of the Philippines in the ASBC Asian Youth Championships in Subic Bay.

Uzbekistan’s AIBA Junior World Championships silver medallist Israil Madrimov went up to the welterweight class and tried to replace Akmalbek Kosimov in this division. He dominated his contests in the road to the finals where his last rival was Kazakhstan’s AIBA Youth World Championships quarter-finalist Aitzhan Shleyev. It was the first battle between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the final session and their equal contest was more than a tactical one. The final verdict of their battle was tied 12:12 while Shleyev became the Asian Youth Champion in the welterweight class by individual scores.

Kazakhstan’s Tursynbay Kulakhmet who came from the city of Kyzyl-Orda proved his skills are world class in his two previous contests but he had to fight against Uzbekistan’s star AIBA Youth World Champion Akmalbek Kosimov who received the best Asian youth boxer trophy in 2012. The Uzbek boxer went up a weight division since the Yerevan event and his strength has not been adopted to the middleweight yet. The two warriors’ meeting was one of the highest quality of the final day and following two rounds Kosimov had only one point advantage but Kulakhmet was able to turn back their fight and achieved the third gold medal for Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s Adilet Orynbasarov received the right to compete for Asia’s leading boxing nation at the light heavyweight class in Subic Bay. He defeated a strong Chinese fighter in the semi-final and following that magnificent performance he met with Iran’s AIBA Youth World Championships quarter-finalist Siavash Omidi. Orynbasarov tried to keep the distance using his longer hands and he could get three points advantage before the final round. Omidi had some clear punches but he was too static while Orynbasarov danced him around and his counter-attacks were effective. The final verdict of the bout was 15:11 to Orynbasarov who became the fourth boxer from Kazakhstan who could reach the top of the podium in the ASBC Asian Youth Championships.

Uzbekistan’s heavyweight weapon AIBA Junior World Champion Oybek Sharipov is member of the national squad since 2009 and lost only one bout in the last two and a half years. Sharipov used to be started in lower speed of their contests but now his ringside decided to speed up the process against Kazakhstan’s newly crowned National Youth Champion and Zhetysu Youth Cup winner Aibek Ermetov. Their heavyweight battle brought another high level of boxing and Sharipov could not dominate in the contest but his efforts were enough to beat his older rival in Subic Bay.

China’s new super heavyweight fighter Zhang Zhe is more than 200m tall and might be he will be able to replace Beijing 2008 Olympics silver medallist Zhang Zhilei in the national elite squad soon. His final opponent was Uzbekistan’s National Elite Champion Ulugbek Mubinov who have had more experiences in the international level during his career. The Chinese southpaw boxer tried to annulate the differences between their number of bouts in the contest and used his better footwork. Zhang Zhe subdued the strong Uzbek fighter and secured China’s first triumph in the ASBC Asian Youth Championships. The final verdict of their bout was 18:17 to the Zhang Zhe.