Young winners in the Taimanov & Utemisov Memorial Tournament

The Issatai Taimanov & Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament was held in Atyrau, Kazakhstan where the host country, Russia, China and Kyrgyzstan claimed the gold medals. 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 was 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 next big event in Kazakhstan, the Askar Kulibayev Prizes Tournament will be scheduled also in Atyrau in July 1-5.
Russia’s first gold medal in the Issatai Taimanov & Makhambet Utemisov Memorial Tournament was achieved by Islam Abdumuslimov who met in the final of the light flyweight (49kg) with Uzbekistan’s teenager Fozil Abdumurodov. The Uzbek teenager was competitive rival for the experienced Russian who was able to keep his advantage until the final bell.
Kyrgyzstan’s flyweight (52kg) No.1 is ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev but Zhanybek Musayev is also a promising boxer in this category who won three national titles in his Central Asian country. The 23-year-old boxer delivered top performance and defeated Uzbekistan’s National Champion strong Abdulla Kuchkarov in the semi-final and also Kazakhstan’s experienced titleholder Rashid Salauatov in the final.
Kazakhstan’s Zhukov Memorial Tournament bronze medallist young Bekzhan Kuralov won his key semi-final against experienced Erlan Tamemov and continued his winning path against Kyrgyzstan’s National Championships silver medallist Kanatbek Abduvakhab Uulu in the final of the bantamweight (56kg).
Kazakhstan’s former National Champion 23-year-old Yerzhan Ordabayev has been competing in the international level since 2011 and his current skills were enough to beat Uzbekistan’s Sardor Muzaffarov who moved up to the lightweight (60kg) which was one of the best final in Atyrau. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Ordabayev who is trying to regain his place in the national team of Kazakhstan.
Russia’s EUBC European Youth Champion Beslan Khamzaev was still a youth boxer in 2016 and joined to the elite age group his January but his skills were enough to win the light welterweight (64kg) in Atyrau. The 19-year-old Russian is new in this category and defeated two Kazakh teenagers in the final stages of the tournament as Kazbek Sapenov and Youth National Champion Ray Seitzhanov.
China’s two-time Olympian veteran Maimaiti Tuersunqiong won the gold medal at the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament and continued his winning path in Atyrau as well. The Xinjiang-based welterweight (69kg) boxer dominated his fights during the road to the finals and defeated Russia’s Shamil Malsagov as well. The 29-year-old Chinese boxer walked over to the gold medal as his Uzbek opponent, Fazliddin Meliboev was not able to fight against him in the last competition day.
Russia’s Shamil Khataev raised his experiences in the last two seasons in the World Series of Boxing but following his semi-final against Uzbekistan’s Alisher Khabibullayev, he had to meet with another top middleweight (75kg) boxer for the title. Uzbekistan’s AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships bronze medallist 20-year-old Kozimbek Mardonov was not an ideal opponent for Khataev in Atyrau but finally his hand was raised after the last gong.
Following the spectacular middleweight (75kg) final Kazakhstan’s National Championships silver medallist Nurzod Sobirov and Bocskai Memorial Tournament bronze medallist Shaimurat Kusainov delivered a sensational battle in Atyrau. Sobirov is a promising light heavyweight (81kg) boxer but he needed his very best to beat his rival in the final.
Kazakhstan’s China Open Tournament silver medallist Magzhan Bazarbay was enough strong to beat all of his rivals at the heavyweight (91kg) including Russia’s Ibragim Dzangiyev and Salauat Toleubayev. The 22-year-old Kazakh talent celebrated his gold while Uzbekistan’s Youth National Champion Aziz Shukurov failed to get any medal in Atyrau.

List of the winners in the Taimanov & Utemisov Memorial Tournament
49kg: Islam Abdumuslimov, Russia
52kg: Zhanybek Musayev, Kyrgyzstan
56kg: Bekzhan Kuralov, Kazakhstan
60kg: Yerzhan Ordabayev, Kazakhstan
64kg: Beslan Khamzaev, Russia
69kg: Maimaiti Tuersunqiong, China
75kg: Shamil Khataev, Russia
81kg: Nurzod Sobirov, Kazakhstan
91kg: Magzhan Bazarbay, Kazakhstan
+91kg: A. Muhamanad, China