Ruslan Gafurov was the youngest winner in the Azimjon Toshev Memorial Tournament

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July 15, 2025
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The Azimjon Toshev International Memorial Tournament finished with its seven finals bouts in the Spartak Stadium in Khudjand, Tajikistan where the 19-year-old Ruslan Gafurov became the youngest winner.

The boxers could compete at the flyweight (51kg), featherweight (57kg), light welterweight (63.5kg), welterweight (67kg), light middleweight (71kg), light heavyweight (80kg) and super heavyweight (+92kg) in the Azimjon Toshev Memorial Tournament.

The competition is dedicated to the National Unity Day and in memory of the Honoured Coach of the Soviet Union, Mr. Azimjon Toshev. Altogether 84 elite male boxers were participating in the new event from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Russia’s Bair Batlayev competed in several events in the Central Asian region and he was succeeded in the city of Khudjand. The flyweight (51kg) boxer had a hard task against Tajikistan’s promising Mekhroj Sufijonov who defeated his main national rival, Mekhron Shafiyev in the semi-finals of the event.

Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian U22 silver medallist Khusravkhon Rakhimov eliminated Russia’s Vitaliy Boytsov in the first semi-finals of the featherweight (57kg) and he continued his winning path against Uzbekistan’s Mukhammadgiyos Sobutkhanov in the final.

Tajikistan’s next talent, the multiple ASBC medallist Ruslan Gafurov is only 19-year-old but he had the technical skills to beat four opponents including his teammate, Mekhroj Zoidov and Rasul Magomedov of Russia in the final stages of the light welterweight (63.5kg).

Russia’s Danis Gabdrafikov had a massive performance in the semi-finals of the welterweight (67kg) but he had to do his very best in the final against Tajikistan’s World Championships competitor, Dovud Makhkamov to win the weight class.

Tajikistan’s Murodjon Ashuraliyev is not an experienced elite boxer yet but he had the stamina to eliminate Russia’s Alikhan Yangizbayev in the semi-finals of the light middleweight (71kg). He continued his strong performance against Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Schoolboys Champion Lazizbek Tulkinov to take the title of the category.

Russia’s Chezrav Ashalayev won several junior and youth competitions and he moved up to the light heavyweight (80kg) this year. The 22-year-old Russian knocked out his quarter-final opponent, the veteran Bakhtiyor Mirzomukhammadi and he stopped another Tajik in the final, Shakhboz Khaitov.

Tajikistan’s ASBC medallist Mukhammad Abroridinov is a tall and experienced boxer at the super heavyweight (+92kg) but Russia’s Svetoslav Teterin was slightly better than him in the last final of the Toshev Memorial.

The list of the winners at the Azimjon Toshev Memorial Tournament

51kg: Bair Batlayev, Russia