Safarov and Muminov defended their thrones in the Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament

The 8th edition of the Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament was held in the city of Khudjand where the host country achieved eight gold medals but Kyrgyzstan also won titles in this international event in Tajikistan. Kyrgyzstan’s National Champion Ziyadin Muminov and Tajikistan’s Akbar Safarov were the only two boxers who could defend their titles in the Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament.
The 8th Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament is a relatively new boxing competition for the men’s elite boxers in Khudjand which was launched less than one 10 years ago. Altogether 68 top male boxers attended in the Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament this time and ten champions were crowned in Khudjand.
Tajikistan’s U21 National Champion Mukhammad Abdusamadzoda won the first title in the event following that the 18-year-old talent was able to beat Dushanbe’s Izatullo Aliev in the final of the light flyweight (49kg). The Khudjand-based teenager won two national events within one month and closed the year successful again.
Another U21 National Champion 18-year-old Sunatullo Yunuszoda used up his international experiences to beat Kyrgyzstan’s Seyman Daniyar Uulu in the semi-final and Khatlon’s Djekhronsho Kholov in the final. The teenage talent moved up to the flyweight (52kg) in the recent months only and proved his best in the Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament.
Kulob’s 20-year-old Bakhtovar Sagizov won the last two editions of the Tajikistan National Championships and won his three contests by RSC in Khudjand including against Sherzod Mavlonov in the final of the bantamweight (56kg). Sagizov did enough in the competition and short after the U21 National Championships he achieved his next title.
Tajikistan National Championships silver medallist 19-year-old Oyatullo Yakubov defeated Kyrgyzstan’s strong Munarbek Seyitbek Uulu in the first preliminary round and after that success his were enough to beat three further tough rivals including Dushanbe’s Nurmukhammad Sharifov in the final of the lightweight (60kg).
Makhmudali Zheenaliyev lost his first contest in the Kyrgyz National Championships but this time he was able to beat all of his three rivals at the light welterweight (64kg). Tajikistan’s national team member boxer Akbar Safarov defeated Tajikistan U21 National Champion Khuzaif Fozilov in the final of the welterweight (69kg). Safarov was the first boxer who could win the Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament after the 2016 edition.
National Champion and ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships competitor Mirzomukhammad Bakhtiyar had to meet in the final of the middleweight (75kg) with 18-year-old Fozil Radzhabaliyev following his RSC successes in the previous stages. The 25-year-old Bakhtiyar did enough in the final and celebrated his gold after the last gong.
Tajikistan’s top future hope AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Akhmadjon Saidov delivered another sensational performance and stopped titleholder Subkhon Kholov of Buston in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg). Tajikistan’s eighth gold medal was delivered by Faridun Odilov who defeated his teammate, U21 National Champion Siyovush Zabirov at the heavyweight (91kg).
Kyrgyzstan’s newly crowned National Champion at the super heavyweight (+91kg) Ziyadin Muminov arrived to Khudjand as titleholder of the Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament. The 26-year-old boxer, who won the heavyweight (91kg) one year ago, was too strong for Tajikistan’s Nuradin Obloyerov and defended his throne.

List of the winners in the Maruf Khusainov Memorial Tournament
49kg: Mukhammad Abdusamadzoda, Tajikistan
52kg: Sunatullo Yunuszoda, Tajikistan
56kg: Bakhtovar Sagizov, Tajikistan
60kg: Oyatullo Yakubov, Tajikistan
64kg: Makhmudali Zheenaliyev, Kyrgyzstan
69kg: Akbar Safarov, Tajikistan
75kg: Mirzomukhammad Bakhtiyar, Tajikistan
81kg: Akhmadjon Saidov, Tajikistan
91kg: Faridun Odilov, Tajikistan
+91kg: Ziyadin Muminov, Kyrgyzstan