Philippines’ duo impressed the crowd in the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships on Day1

DSC_5208 - Pangga in action

The ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships began with its first competition day in Puerto Princesa, Philippines where 32 preliminary bouts have been held. Philippines’ Cruz Russu Laurente and his teammate John Vincent Pangga both defeated tough boxers in the first round while India’s Selay Soy also impressed the crowd on Day1.
The following nations won at least one contest in the opening day of the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships:
– Uzbekistan: 5 victories
– Kazakhstan, India: 4 victories
– Japan, South Korea: 3 victories
– Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philippines: 2 victories
– Bhutan, China, Iraq: 1 victory

Pinweight (46kg):
South Korea’s Shin Jae Young claimed silver medal in their Youth National Championships and arrived to Puerto Princesa as secret favourite of the lowest weight class. The 16-year-old Korean had to meet with Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadmuso Abdurakhmanov in the first preliminary round of the event. The Korean boxer moved ahead in the opening bout of the whole competition but the Uzbek talent used successful counter-attacks to win their close contest by split decision.
Kyrgyzstan’s Bayaman Magzymov joined to the junior age group only this year but he had already more than 50 bouts during his career. The 15-year-old Kyrgyz talent used his longer hands to keep the distance in the first two rounds against Thailand’s Thuamcharoen Natthaphong and took the lead. The Thai talent gave in everything in the third round but his efforts were not enough to turn back their contest.
India’s Selay Soy is a superb talented boxer who won all of his national level contests and finally he could join to the international competitions. The 16-year-old Indian launched powerful punches against Japan’s Ruka Tagawa mainly in the second round. The referee counted the Japanese boxer after a serious shot in the middle of their bout therefore Soy was able to win their contest by unanimous decision.

Light flyweight (48kg):
Philippines’ Criz Russu Laurente came from a strong boxing family and he showed his skills in Puerto Princesa. The 15-year-old Filipino talent had to meet with China’s Cai Yujun in his debuting contest in the front of the home crowd. Russu Laurente overcame his Chinese opponent in the attacks and controlled all of the rounds from the first seconds. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the young Filipino talent who advanced to the quarter-finals in the continental event.
Mongolia’s Altantulga Bayarsaikhan and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Teng both have got the similar experiences during their career. The Mongolian had good defence in the first round while Lin was also a hard target in their narrow bout. After the first tactical round the Mongolian talent increased his tempo and won their contest by split decision which means he advanced to the quarter-finals.

Flyweight (50kg):
Philippines’ John Vincent Pangga claimed several national titles during his career and he had already 87 bouts since 2011. The 15-year-old Filipino talent, who is spending his first year in the junior age group, started well against Uzbekistan’s Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup winner Amirbek Ibodullayev in Puerto Princesa. Pangga, whose twin brother is also a boxer, began his campaign with a superb performance winning the early final of the flyweight (50kg).
Kazakhstan’s Junior National Champion Talgat Syrymbetov tried to catch India’s Anil Swapnil Shinde in the first round of their top contest. The taller Indian boxer used his counter-attacking style which was so successful in his homeland since 2012. The Kazakh boxer caught his Indian rival several times mainly in the second and third rounds therefore finally Syrymbetov’s hand was raised.
Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ya Chun won two national titles and after four years of experiences he could show his current skills in the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships. He had to meet with a younger opponent Japan’s Kenshin Osugi in the first preliminary round but his opponent found his weak points this time. The Japanese boxer advanced to the quarter-final stage of the competition in Puerto Princesa.
Kyrgyzstan’s Muktarbek Ibraimov competed international events in Uzbekistan and in Kazakhstan as well therefore he tried to use his experiences against Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Al-Atbi in the first round. The referee counted the Saudi Arabian boxer in the end of the first round while Ibraimov continued his strong performance in the second. The Uzbek referee ended their unequal contest in the second and confirmed Ibraimov’s RSC success.

Light flyweight (52kg):
Uzbekistan’s Asadkhudja Muydinkhodjayev is one of the most experienced junior athlete in the entire Asian continent who had a few difficulties in the first round against Japan’s Hiromi Gomi. The Uzbek boxer, who claimed titles in several international events, increased his rhythm in the second and regained the control of the bout. The Uzbek southpaw did enough to beat his Japanese rival who exceeded the expectations with his style.
Jordan’s Elias Isam Abdelhadi did not have any experiences from the international level therefore he began the bout carefully against Iraq’s Hussein Abdulhadi Al-Baidhani who was quarter-finalist in the Children of Asia Games in 2016 and defeated a Russian boxer as well. The Iraqi talent knocked down his Jordan opponent who was brave but could not stop Al-Baidhani’s attacks in the third round.
Mongolia’s most experienced junior boxer Enkhtur Tegshjargal arrived to the venue of the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships as a secret favourite. He impressed the crowd his speed attacks and won his contest by unanimous decision against South Korea’s Yun Seon Woo who was a tough opponent as first in Puerto Princesa.
India’s Bhavesh Kattimani began the bout with extremely high number of punches against Saudi Arabia’s Ziyad Ali Majrashi who moved back one category. The Indian talent moved ahead also in the second round in energetic style but his Saudi Arabian opponent also proved development in comparison to his last bout. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the Indian talent and advanced to the quarter-final of the event.

Bantamweight (54kg):
Uzbekistan’s Rakhmatullo Toshpulatov was silver medallist in their Junior National Championships but he received the right to compete in the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships. The Uzbek boxer used his height advantage as weapon against South Korea’s Han Sang Beom and his longer reach was the difference between them. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Toshpulatov after the confirmation of the result.
Japan’s Kenshin Yura was not able to win their Junior National Championships but his attacking style was uncomfortable for Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chin in the first round. Yura began the bout with a great left-handed punch and took the lead after two minutes of fight. The Japanese boxer was able to keep his strong performance until the end of the final bell and advanced to the quarter-finals.

Featherweight (57kg):
Uzbekistan’s Javlonbek Yuldashev was member of their junior national team already in 2016 and since then he moved up three weight classes. The 16-year-old Uzbek claimed silver medal in the Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup in Azerbaijan and tried to dictate the tempo against Iran’s Farhad Moradi from the first seconds. Yuldashev, who trains in the city of Andizhan, was confident also in the third round against his younger rival and won their bout by unanimous decision in Puerto Princesa.
Chinese Taipei’s first triumph in the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships was achieved by Wu Guo Wei who eliminated Saudi Arabia’s Abdul Aziz Al-Thabit by unanimous decision. Thailand’s Tanawat Srijan and South Korea’s Goh Seung Hun delivered a sensational fight in the evening session. The final verdict was unanimous decision to the South Korean boxer who had effective punches in the bout.

Light welterweight (63kg):
South Korea’s Lee Chae Hyun achieved silver medal in their Youth National Championships where he showed his potential against older rivals. The 16-year-old South Korean talent was amazing in the first round against Iran’s Ehsan Adai who competed in the Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup in Azerbaijan this year. The Iranian boxer was better in the second round with his tough punches but his Korean opponent was able to increase his tempo in time and won their difficult contest.
Japan’s Shoi Someya is their current Junior National Champion who joined to the national team only this year therefore he could expect difficulties against Kazakhstan’s Azamat Bektas. The 16-year-old Japanese boxer exceeded the expectations in the opening round and his tough punches controlled the opening two rounds. Bektas returned to the match only the third round but his efforts were not able to turn back their contest which meant the Japanese boxer advanced to the next round in Puerto Princesa delivering the main surprise of the day.

Light middleweight (70kg):
Uzbekistan’s Khayotbek Bakhtiyorov replaced Komiljon Yusupov in the final minute but he did great performance against Chinese Taipei’s Huang Wei Cheng in the first preliminary round of the category. India’s Aman Ajmer proved tough performance against United Arab Emirates’ Saif Al-Kindi who trained in the Philippines in the recent two weeks. Aman knocked down his rival from the UAE but Al-Kindi was able to box until the final gong. The bout was won by the Indian boxer by unanimous decision and advanced to the last eight.

Heavyweight (+80kg):
India’s Satender Singh won their Junior National Championships two weeks ago and after that event he was able to compete in his first ever international tournament. The Indian boxer tried to overcame in the attacks Chinese Taipei’s Lin Sheng Hao in the first round but his Taiwanese opponent launched also effective punches in their contest. The Indian boxer felt the tempo well in the second and third rounds which was enough for him to celebrate his victory after the final gong.