Yeraliyev defeated Ragan once again and Kazakhstan topped the team rankings of the President’s Cup in Astana

The sixth edition of the Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup was held in Astana, Kazakhstan where the host country claimed ten gold medals. Kazakhstan’s Kayrat Yeraliyev defeated United States’ Duke Ragan at the bantamweight (56kg) which was the repeat final of the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships.
The event is a top preparation event for the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and the finals will be held on June 10 and 14 champions will be crowned in the last competition day. Altogether 38 women boxers and 124 male athletes are attending in the sixth edition of the Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup in Astana.
The Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup is traditionally one of the strongest Asian international events where the top boxing nations such as Russia, United States of America, China, India, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Thailand, Japan, Philippines, Sweden and Mongolia were all taking parts.
Japan’s Tsukimi Namiki was a strong youth boxer who involved to the national elite team only this year but she exceeded all of the previous expectations in Astana. The Japanese flyweight (51kg) talent eliminated Kazakhstan’s two-time AIBA Women’s World Champion Nazym Kyzaibay and did enough in the final against Thailand’s AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Chuthamat Raksat to win the first title of the President’s Cup in Astana.
The host country’s first gold medal was taken by National Champion Saniya Sultankyzy at the women’s featherweight (57kg) following her close victory over Japan’s Mizuki Hiruta in the final. Kazakhstan’s National Champion and international tournaments gold medallists Rimma Volosenko defeated India’s Priyanka Chaudhary in the semi-final of the lightweight (60kg) and the 26-year-old Kazakh boxer continued her strong performance against her main national rival AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Ayzhan Khodzhabekova in the final.
Kazakhstan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Dariga Shakimova stopped her teammate Saniya Alzhanova in the semi-final of the women’s middleweight (75kg). The experienced Shakimova, who is member of the national team since 2009, was not bale to reduce the fighting distance in the final against Sweden’s former AIBA Women’s Youth World Champion Love Holgersson. The 25-year-old Swedish boxer, who eliminated China’s Wang Lina in the semi-final, worked from longer distance successfully in the final and defeated another star rival as Shakimova.
Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Yerzhan Zhomart eliminated India’s surprise of the event Nutlai Lalbiakkima with top performance in the semi-final and had meet for the title of the men’s light flyweight (49kg) with Temirtas Zhussupov who eliminated Russia’s two-time EUBC European Champion Vasiliy Egorov in the last four. The former ASBC Asian Champion Zhussupov used his reach well in the final and won their bout by unanimous decision which was a big step for him in the road to the Asian Games.
Kazakhstan’s Anvar Muzaparov eliminated Uzbekistan’s ASBC Asian Champion and two-times AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Jasurbek Latipov on Day3 which was his biggest victory during his career. The 26-year-old flyweight (52kg) boxer defeated Japan’s Ryusei Baba in the semi-final and did enough in the final against Philippines’ AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Rogen Ladon who eliminated India’s AIBA Youth World Champion Sachin Siwach Singh in the last four.
Kazakhstan’s defending AIBA World Champion Kayrat Yeraliyev did not compete too much in 2018 yet but his preparations were successful to the Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup. The bantamweight (56kg) star defeated Mongolia’s young Munkhbaatar Tsagaanbaatar in the quarter-finals and continued his winning path against Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner Shakhobiddin Zoirov. Yeraliyev’s next opponent was United States’ tough Duke Ragan which was the repeat final of the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The 28-year-old Kazakh boxer landed better punches and his footwork was enough to beat Ragan once again, this time in Astana.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Shunkor Abdurasulov won their Elite National Championships as a teenager last November and joined to the elite squad this season. The Uzbek lightweight (60kg) eliminated Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Samatali Toltayev, Philippines’ Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Charly Suarez and Kazakhstan’s Zakir Safiullin during his road to the finals. The Uzbek talent claimed finally silver medal following his close loss to Russia’s Gabil Mamedov.
Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Ikboljon Kholdarov impressed when he defeated Thailand’s Asian Games winner Wuttichai Masuk in the semi-final of the President’s Cup. The defending ASBC Asian Champion had to meet for the title of the light welterweight (64kg) with Bekdaulet Ibragimov who was born in Tashkent but has been fighting for Kazakhstan. Ibragimov lost to Kholdarov in the semi-final of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships but this time he did revenge.
Kazakhstan’s WSB star Aslanbek Shymbergenov walked over to the title of the welterweight (69kg) following his opponent Youth Olympic Games winner Ablaikhan Zhussupov was unable to box against him. Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Abilkhan Amankul did revenge to Uzbekistan’s Israil Madrimov due his previous loss in the semi-final and defeated his teammate Yerik Alzhanov in the final of the middleweight (75kg).
Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Bektemir Melikuziev is in strong shape and he proved his powerful punches also in Astana. The 22-year-old Uzbek defeated Kazakhstan’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships silver medallist Bekzat Nurdauletov and met another young talent Bek Nurmagambet in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg). Melikuziev was confident from the first seconds and defeated his 20-year-old Kazakh rival by unanimous decision.
The favourite of the heavyweight (91kg) was Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Vasiliy Levit but he lost to Russia’s National Champion Sadam Magomedov in the semi-final which was a sensational result. The Russian boxer was shocked by Kazakhstan’s WSB hope Abzal Kuttybekov in the final therefore the gold medal remained at the host country. The last gold medal of the President’s Cup was achieved by Kamshybek Kunkabayev who triumphed over Russia’s Maksim Babanin.

List of the winners in the Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup
Women’s 51kg: Tsukimi Namiki, Japan
Women’s 57kg: Saniya Sultankyzy, Kazakhstan
Women’s 60kg: Rimma Volosenko, Kazakhstan
Women’s 75kg: Love Holgersson, Sweden
Men’s 49kg: Temirtas Zhussupov, Kazakhstan
Men’s 52kg: Anvar Muzaparov, Kazakhstan
Men’s 56kg: Kayrat Yeraliyev, Kazakhstan
Men’s 60kg: Gabil Mamedov, Russia
Men’s 64kg: Bekdaulet Ibragimov, Kazakhstan
Men’s 69kg: Aslanbek Shymbergenov, Kazakhstan
Men’s 75kg: Abilkhan Amankul, Kazakhstan
Men’s 81kg: Bektemir Melikuziev, Uzbekistan
Men’s 91kg: Abzal Kuttybekov, Kazakhstan
Men’s +91kg: Kamshybek Kunkabayev, Kazakhstan

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