Strong day for Kazakhstan in the Strandja Memorial Tournament
The 73rd Strandja Memorial Tournament delivered incredible hard battles in the third competition day in Sofia, Bulgaria where more than 50 bouts were on the agenda. Kazakhstan recognized an impressive day, their boxers shined on Day3, especially their returning girls.
Strong Asian teams as India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are attending at the upcoming Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, which is one of the most exciting competitions in the world. The new 73rd Strandja Memorial Tournament is the first from the World Boxing Tour’s Golden Gloves Series and take place between February 18 and 28 in Sofia.
The Strandja Memorial is Europe’s oldest international boxing tournament and has a strong brand name therefore high number of stars decided to attend in the event. IBA arranged the money prizes and boxers could earn new world ranking points in the 73rd Strandja Memorial Tournament.
Impressive number of 39 nations registered to attend in the new edition of the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia. The competition will be also a preparation event for the upcoming big goals as the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and many other continental events.
Rimma Volosenko had a tough opening bout in Sofia
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Rimma Volosenko won most of her international tournaments in the recent two years and she started the first round in the Strandja Memorial Tournament in good rhythm. Her opponent was the ex-Italian Valentina Bustamante who represents Chile in the international stage and won key contests in the previous events. The South American lightweight (60kg) boxer had dangerous hooks in the first round but Volosenko had good responses. The 29-year-old Kazakh boxer worked hard in the final round to win this difficult contest against a strong rival in Sofia.
Kazakhstan’s Madina Nurshayeva celebrated her successful return
Kazakhstan’s Madina Nurshayeva was ASBC Asian Women’s Champion in Ho Chi Minh City in 2017 but since then she was unlucky in the competitions and she replaced by other boxers in her weight class. She moved down to the new welterweight (66kg) and received the chance once again to compete in a top event. Nurshayeva had to face with Norway’s Madeleine Angelsen who had medals from various events during her youth and U22 challenges. The 27-year-old Kazakh boxer was nervous in the first round during her comeback but she found her best rhythm gradually and won the bout by split decision.
Kazakhstan’s Yerassyl Zhakpekov eliminated a Russian star
Kazakhstan’s Yerassyl Zhakpekov robbed into the world of boxing in 2017 when he was unbeaten in the junior age group at the age of 15. Zhakpekov, whose elder brother is also member of the national team, joined to the elite squad following the Kielce 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. The 19-year-old Kazakh talent eliminated a tough boxer in the opening day of the Strandja Memorial Tournament and he continued his winning path on Day3. He never met against such strong rival as Russia’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Savelii Sadoma in the past but after the second round, he found his best tempo to win the contest by split decision.
Uzbekistan’s Odiljon Aslonov won his second contest in Sofia
Uzbekistan prepared well to the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Yangiabad, in their mountainous training camp. Their two-time National Champion Odiljon Aslonov waited for the moments to be involved to their top Uzbek squad and he received the right to compete in the previous big events. Aslonov eliminated his first opponent on Day1 and he landed energetic and quick punches against Russia’s Tamerlan Kaziyev in the opening round. The Uzbek light heavyweight (80kg) boxer received punches in the second from the Russian side but he worked hard in the third to eliminate Kaziyev.
Kazakhstan’s Dariga Shakimova eliminated a European Champion on Day3
Kazakhstan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist and 2015 ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Dariga Shakimova is a veteran boxer who decided to continue her boxing career and moved down from the middleweight (75kg) to the welterweight (66kg). The experienced Kazakh boxer enjoyed her comeback to the competition and shocked Bulgaria’s EUBC European Women’s Champion Melis Yonuzova in the first round. Shakimova was faster than in her previous competitions and her strength also controlled their contest today. The Bulgarian tried to attack more from the second round but Shakimova’s technical skills decided the contest.
Kuttybekov’s surprise success over Emmanuel Reyes
Kazakhstan’s CISM Military World Champion Abzal Kuttybekov has done excellent job in 2021 when he received more chance to compete in the international stage. Following Vasiliy Levit finished his boxing career, the place is open at the heavyweight (92kg) in Kazakhstan. Kuttybekov is not a young hope but he has now all of the skills and technique to win key contests against the stars of the weight class. Kuttybekov surprised Spain’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist ex-Cuban Emmanuel Reyes in the first round and took the lead on the judges’ scorecards. His Spanish opponent has done excellent final round but Kuttybekov had the advantage to win their contest in Sofia.
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