Uzbekistan’s Zoirov and Gaibnazarov advanced to the final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Uzbekistan’s Shakhobiddin Zoirov and Fazliddin Gaibnazarov both were excellent in the semi-finals of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games today and will have the chance to achieve gold medals in the Riocentro Pavilion 6. Asia finally secured 17 medals in the boxing tournament in Rio de Janeiro which is record in the Olympic history. Uzbekistan’s 20-year-old Bektemir Melikuziev will be boxing for the gold medal tomorrow in the Games.
Women’s Lightweight class (60 kg):
China’s Yin Junhua was gold medallist in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games and also in the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event and arrived to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as a medal favourite. The Chinese boxer eliminated Morocco’s Hasnaa Lachgar who is Africa’s best in this weight class and she was better than Azerbaijan’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist experienced Yana Alekseevna in the quarter-final. Yin worked from longer distance to control her semi-final against Finland’s lone boxer in the Games Mira Potkonen. The Chinese boxer advanced to the Olympic gold medal bout who had to meet with France’s current AIBA Women’s World Champion Estelle Mossely. Yin opened the first round with perfect tactic and she was able to launch good punches also in the second round. Yin had the advantage after the middle of the bout but the French boxer was able to control the third and fourth rounds which delivered for her a gold medal. Yin Junhua joined to the Chinese national team in 2014 and secured a valuable silver in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Women’s Middleweight class (75 kg):
Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Dariga Shakimova is an experienced boxer who had to meet with Canada’s former two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Ariane Fortin in the preliminary round of the Middleweight class (75 kg). Shakimova won their narrow fight with the smallest possible difference and eliminated also Morocco’s AIBA African Olympic Qualification Event winner and Rio Test Event winner Khadija Mardi in the quarter-final. Shakimova had the right to box with United States’ London 2012 Olympic Champion Claressa Shields in the last four. The Kazakh boxer had a brave attempt in their semi-final to beat her star rival but Shields was better in this bout therefore Shakimova claimed bronze medal in her first Olympic Games.
China’s Li Qian claimed four silver medals in major competitions until the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event which she won in Qian’an. She opened her competition in Rio de Janeiro against Brazil’s Andreia Bandeira who won several continental titles during her career. The AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Chinese boxer was better than her South American rival and advanced to the semi-final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which means all of the three Chinese women boxers are guaranteed medallists in the event. Li Qian’s next opponent in the semi-final was Netherlands’ strong favourite Nouchka Fontijn for the place of the final. The Chinese boxer proved great fighting spirit in their semi-final and worked a bit better than her Dutch opponent in the first round. Li Qian was too tired in the final two minutes which decided their close contest therefore the Chinese boxer claimed bronze medal in her first Olympic 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. Zoirov’s will dominated their contest as the Uzbek boxer had simple the better fighter and his weapons for serious for the Venezuelan. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Shakhobiddin Zoirov who advanced to the gold medal bout.
China’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Hu Jianguan was an unknown boxer two years ago but he proved on his international appearances he is among the bests in this weight class. The 23-year-old Chinese boxer was in different level than Turkey’s two-time Olympian Selcuk Eker, eliminated Armenia’s Narek Abgaryan in the last eight and shocked Cuba’s No.1 Yosbany Veitia in the quarter-final. The Chinese boxer tried to use his tricky style in the semi-final against Russia’s two-time AIBA World Champion Misha Aloian once again in his fourth bout. Hu did more tactical boxing in their contest as in the quarter-final but his punches were not enough successful today. The Chinese boxer claimed bronze medal in his first Olympic Games and did his very best in the competition.
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 who came from a boxing family. The Uzbek boxer had to meet in the semi-final with Russia’s AIBA World Champion Vitaly Dunaytsev and tried to do revenge to his previous loss. Gaibnazarov attacked in the first round but not enough successfully as he planned and Dunaytsev could use his beat weapon in the opening minutes. Gaibnazarov turned up the heat and from the second round he controlled the semi-final which means he will be Uzbekistan’s next finalist in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Men’s Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg):
Kazakhstan’s two-time AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Ivan Dychko eliminated Azerbaijan’s two-time AIBA World Champion Mahammadrasul Majidov which was the repeat match of the final of the Almaty 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships. London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Dychko advanced to the quarter-finals where he triumphed over Nigeria’s All Africa Games winner native talent Efe Ajagba. Dychko advanced to the semi-final as in London and had to meet with another gold medal favourite Great Britain’s Baku 2015 European Games winner Joseph Joyce. The Kazakh boxer worked well and he was quicker than Joyce in the first round but his physical condition was not enough to win their contest in the semi-final. Dychko was bronze medallist in the London 2012 Olympic Games and he was able to repeat that performance.