Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev advanced to the final in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev advanced to the gold medal bout while Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov achieved silver medal in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games today. Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov and Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Champion and two-time Asian Games winner Daniyar Yeleussinov won our continent’s two gold medals in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the previous days. Asia finally secured 17 medals in the boxing tournament in Rio de Janeiro which is record in the Olympic history.
Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg):
China’s three-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Ren Cancan arrived to the venue of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as one of the gold medal contender of this weight class. The 28-year-old Chinese boxer opened her participation in Rio against Canada’s two-time Panamerican Games winner Mandy Bujold. Ren had such a strong opponent in the quarter-finals but she was able to solve that tactical issue which means she is a guaranteed medallist in Rio as well. Ren’s semi-final opponent today was Great Britain’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Nicola Adams for a place in the final. The Chinese boxer had positive balance against her British star rival during their career and opened the first round with effective punches. Ren proved top quality to footwork in the opening minutes but her European rival found the best fighting distance therefore the Chinese boxer achieved bronze medal this time.
Men’s Bantamweight class (56 kg):
Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliev is one of the gold medal contender of the Men’s Bantamweight class (56 kg) in the Games. The Uzbek boxer controlled his opening bout against Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kairat Yeraliyev in his debuting match and the 22-year-old hope continued his competition against Argentina’s APB boxer Alberto Melian and did not give any chance to his South American rival. Following his TKO success Akhmadaliev had to meet with Cuba’s London 2012 Olympic Champion Robeisy Ramirez in the semi-final. The Uzbek boxer tried to catch his speedy rival in their key bout but the Cuban star had well-built tactic against Akhmadaliev. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Ramirez while the Uzbek boxer claimed bronze medal in his first Olympic Games.
Men’s Middleweight class (75 kg):
Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev was amazing among the youth boxers in 2014 when he claimed gold at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and following that in the Youth Olympic Games. The Uzbek boxer began his elite career with gold at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and silver at the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The 20-year-old super talented Uzbek boxer was seeded as No.2 and won his first contest against Australia’s Daniel Lewis in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and continued his winning path against India’s Vikas Krishan Yadav. Melikuziev’s semi-final rival was Mexico’s last remained boxer Misael Rodriguez who could not adopt the Uzbek athlete’s level today. The Uzbek youngster launched several successful punches in their contest which was an easy one for Melikuziev which means he can box for the gold medal with AIBA World Champion Arlen Lopez of Cuba.
Men’s Light Heavyweight class (81 kg):
Kazakhstan’s London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist and Incheon 2014 Asian Games winner Adilbek Niyazymbetov was not enough shape last year therefore he duplicated his efforts in the recent months. The 27-year-old Kazakh boxer was too strong for Belarus’ Mikhail Dauhaliavets and dominated his next contest against Azerbaijan’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist 23-year-old Teymur Mammadov who moved down to this category. Niyazymbetov did a big success in the semi-final against Great Britain’s Joshua Buatsi who is one of the stronger boxer in the weight class. The Kazakh boxer advanced to the gold medal bout where his next opponent was Cuba’s three-time AIBA World Champion Julio Cesar La Cruz. Niyazymbetov could not catch his quick opponent and the Cuban counter-attacks were successful in their bout which was ended by La Cruz’s victory. Niyazymbetov claimed silver medal in Rio de Janeiro which is his second in the Olympic Games after London.