Yerubek, Seitzhanov, Kabiyev and Iran’s Ahmadisafa shined in the Taimanov & Utemisov Memorial Tournament

The 10th edition of the Issatai Taimanov & Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament for the elite men boxers was held in Atyrau, Kazakhstan which is a prestigious competition in our continent and launched in 2009. Kazakhstan’s young hopes as Askar Yerubek, Ray Seitzhanov and Temirlan Kabiyev furthermore Iran’s strong boxer Omid Ahmadisafa made top level of boxing in Atyrau.
Issatai Taimanov and Makhambet Utemisov were Kazakhstan’s heroes who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries and not only served their country as warriors but poets as well. The competition will be held in Atyrau which is located off the coast of the Caspian Sea and the traditional venue of the Issatai Taimanov & Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament.
The 2017 edition of the Issatai Taimanov & Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament saw that Kazakhstan, Russia, China and Kyrgyzstan claimed the gold medals. This time host Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Iran and Russia won the titles in the 10th edition of the Issatai Taimanov & Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament.
The city of Atyrau hosted several international competitions besides to the Issatai Taimanov and Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament in the recent years to raise the region’s boxing life including with the Askar Kulibayev Prizes Tournament and the Moldagulova & Dospanova & Mametova Women’s Memorial Tournament.
Iran’s Omid Ahmadisafa is the country’s best light flyweight (49kg) boxer in the recent 10 years who showed his talent once again and defeated Kazakhstan’s Zhandos Nesipzhan in the first final of the Issatai Taimanov and Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament. Iran’s top talent has been preparing hard to the upcoming Asian Games where he is among the medal contenders.
Kazakhstan’s younger hope Kuanysh Duisenbay walked over to the gold medal at the flyweight (52kg) where his strong WSB opponent Anvar Muzaparov was unable to box against him. Muzaparov has been competing in the international level since 2009 but he had to please with silver medal in Atyrau.
Mongolia’s Nurlan Askhar has got Kazakh roots and moved up to the bantamweight (56kg) but his skills were enough to get the title in the Issatai Taimanov and Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament. The silver medal was achieved by Uzbekistan’s Abdulla Kuchkarov who claimed gold medal in their 2014 National Championships while Kazakhstan’s Aidos Arapov took only bronze medal in Atyrau.
Asylzhan Uzakbayev delivered a sensation in the semi-final of the lightweight (60kg) when he eliminated Kazakhstan’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Sultan Zaurbek. Following that success Uzakbayev was not enough shape in the final but he could beat Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships bronze medallist Munarbek Seyitbek Uulu in a close contest.
Askar Yerubek defeated Kyrgyzstan’s FISU University World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Temirlan Osmonov, Abdukhasil Baltiyev and former Kazakh National Champion Yerzhan Ordabayev during his road to the title of the light welterweight (64kg). Mongolia’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games quarter-finalist Erdenebat Tsendbaatar impressed in his new category but achieved only bronze medal in Atyrau.
Kazakhstan’s Youth National Champion Ray Seitzhanov joined to the elite age group in 2017 but his efforts were enough to beat Mongolia’s Batkhuyag Sukhkhuyag in the semi-final and Iran’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships No.1 Sajjad Kazemzadeh in the final of the welterweight (69kg).
Russia’s lone gold medal in the Issatai Taimanov and Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament was achieved by Timur Kerefov who defeated Iran’s Seyed Shahin Mousavi in the final of the middleweight (75kg). Kazakhstan’s Azamat Bakytov walked over to the title of the light heavyweight (81kg) following his Uzbek Youth National Champion opponent Abdukarim Farmonov did not fight against him.
Kazakhstan’s Temirlan Kabiyev was ASBC Asian Youth Champion in 2014 and moved up to the heavyweight (91kg) to give himself new chances in the elite level and his speed was enough to beat his teammate Bogdan Filatov in the final. Yesenali Shungarin surprised his opponents in the super heavyweight (+91kg) and defeated all of his rivals quickly using his powerful combinations.

List of the winners in the Taimanov & Utemisov Memorial Tournament
Men’s 49kg: Omid Ahmadisafa, Iran
Men’s 52kg: Kuanysh Duisenbay, Kazakhstan
Men’s 56kg: Nurlan Askhar, Mongolia
Men’s 60kg: Asylzhan Uzakbayev, Kazakhstan
Men’s 64kg: Askar Yerubek, Kazakhstan
Men’s 69kg: Ray Seitzhanov, Kazakhstan
Men’s 75kg: Timur Kerefov, Russia
Men’s 81kg: Azamat Bakytov, Kazakhstan
Men’s 91kg: Temirlan Kabiyev, Kazakhstan
Men’s +91kg: Yesenali Shungarin, Kazakhstan