Uzbekistan’s big day with two gold medals in the Olympic Games

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games finished with its sixteenth and last competition day in Riocentro Pavilion 6 where Uzbekistan’s Shakhobiddin Zoirov and Fazliddin Gaibnazarov both claimed titles today. Asia finally secured 17 medals in the boxing tournament in Rio de Janeiro which is record in the Olympic history and after the two titles our continent won four gold medals in the Games.

Men’s Flyweight class (52 kg):
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event winner and Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Shakhobiddin Zoirov developed well year by year in the current Olympic era. The Uzbek boxer trusted on his speed and his fighting spirit was stronger than Ireland’s Brendan Irvine’s, United States’ Toronto 2015 Panamerican Games winner Antonio Vargas and Azerbaijan’s defending AIBA World Champion Elvin Mamishzada. The 23-year-old Uzbek boxer was quicker and he had more tactical combinations against Venezuela’s Yoel Finol in their semi-final therefore final verdict was unanimous decision to Shakhobiddin Zoirov who advanced to the gold medal bout.
Uzbekistan’s pride met in the final with Russia’s two-time AIBA World Champion Misha Aloian who had only three bouts in the road to the finals. The Russian boxer was enough quick only in the first round but Zoirov’s tempo was too speedy for Aloian in the later part of the bout. The Uzbek boxer worked well and proved top quality of boxing in the entire Olympic tournament therefore finally Zoirov’s hand was raised who reached his career highlight in Rio de Janeiro.

Men’s Light Welterweight class (64 kg):
Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Fazliddin Gaibnazarov had an easy opening bout against Congo’s Dival Forele Malonga Dzalamou who replaced Morocco’s Hamza El-Berbari in the last minute. The London 2012 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Uzbek boxer was stronger than India’s former Commonwealth Games winner and London 2012 Olympian Manoj Kumar and United States’ 19-year-old Gary Russell in the road to the medal bouts. The Uzbek boxer had to meet in the semi-final with Russia’s AIBA World Champion Vitaly Dunaytsev did revenge to his previous loss. Gaibnazarov controlled the semi-final which meant he was Uzbekistan’s next finalist in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The Uzbek boxer had to meet with Azerbaijan’s Cuban-descent Lorenzo Sotomayor who won the Baku 2015 European Games and the AIBA European Olympic Qualification Event four months ago. Gaibnazarov had height and reach disadvantage against his veteran Azeri rival who arrived from Cuba to Baku in 2013. Sotomayor’s longer reach was serious for the Uzbek boxer but his fighting spirit and tactical combinations were enough to get the chance for him to a title in Rio de Janeiro. The London 2012 Olympian Uzbek boxer dominated the second round with his quick attacks and the referee counted his Azeri opponent. Gaibnazarov had to show his very best in the final round against the attacking Sotomayor but his stamina was enough to win Uzbekistan’s third Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro.

List of the winners in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Women’s 51 kg: Nicola Adams, Great Britain
Women’s 60 kg: Estelle Mossely, France
Women’s 75 kg: Claressa Shields, United States
Men’s 49 kg: Hasanboy Dusmatov, Uzbekistan
Men’s 52 kg: Shakhobiddin Zoirov, Uzbekistan
Men’s 56 kg: Robeisy Ramirez, Cuba
Men’s 60 kg: Robson Conceicao, Brazil
Men’s 64 kg: Fazliddin Gaibnazarov, Uzbekistan
Men’s 69 kg: Daniyar Yeleussinov, Kazakhstan
Men’s 75 kg: Arlen Lopez, Cuba
Men’s 81 kg: Julio Cesar La Cruz, Cuba
Men’s 91 kg: Evgeny Tishchenko, Russia
Men’s +91 kg: Tony Yoka, France