WSB Finals – 1st Battle

Great show in Astana with the triumphs of Arlans

After the excellent show at the Saryarka Velodrome the first battle of the final of the World Series of Boxing finished with the triumph of Astana Arlans Kazakhstan despite of the fact that Ukraine Otamans involved their two Olympic Champions on Friday evening which means the host franchise is very near to be crowned in Season III.

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s Meirbolat Toitov was more than successful in the semi-final stage of the World Series of Boxing when he defeated Mexico Guerreros’ No.1 Elias Emigdio in their away contest. The 22-year-old Kazakh southpaw met with Ukraine Otamans’ Viktor Gogolyev who won only one contest in the World Series of Boxing. Toitov used his lethal jabs and dominated the first part of their contest while the Ukrainian bantamweight boxer’s right eye was bleeding from the second round. Gogolyev tried everything to turn back to the fight but Toitov was able to win the opening battle of the final.

Ukraine Otamans’ superstar two-time Olympic Champion and two-time AIBA World Champion Vasyl Lomachenko is unbeaten in the World Series of Boxing as well therefore his loss should have been a huge surprise in the Saryarka Velodrome. The Ukrainian star fought against Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s team captain Samat Bashenov who was also unbeaten before their battle. Lomachenko not only dominated the opening round but he did a real massacre in the ring and the judges scored his production 10:8 but Bashenov also proved his talent in the fourth round but it was not enough to turn back their contest.

Following Lomachenko’s triumph and equalizing a real Ukrainian contest was held in the middleweight class. Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s Ukrainian Sergiy Derevyanchenko won 16 out of his 17 contests in the history of the World Series of Boxing while his opponent Ukraine Otamans’ current National Elite Champion Ievgenii Barabanov is almost a newcomer in the semi-professional league. The 188cm tall Ukrainian middleweight fighter could not use his physical advantage against the aggressive Derevyanchenko which resulted the second victory for Astana Arlans Kazakhstan.

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s winning path was continued by Croatian Hrvoje Sep at the light heavyweight class who was too strong for Ukraine Otamans’ Sergiy Lapin. The Croatian boxer lost only one away contest in the Season III and his bigger experiences in the World Series of Boxing determined their bout which was the fourth in the night. The 27-year-old Croatian has put continuous pressure to his opponent and won each of the rounds in the Astana Saryarka Velodrome.

Ukraine Otamans’ second London 2012 Olympic Champion Oleksandr Usyk has been fighting at the super heavyweight class in the World Series of Boxing where he is still keeping his perfect balance. Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s Mihai Nistor who is the only Romanian boxer in the World Series of Boxing did some good responses in the third round of their battle which was dominated by the Ukrainian star which meant Astana Arlans Kazakhstan won 3-2 the first encounter of the finals.