Zoirov, Mirzakhalilov and Jalolov all shined in the quarter-finals of the Governor Cup
The Governor Cup is a money prize event in St. Petersburg, Russia where the event turned to its quarter-final and medal phase. The Russian competition saw strong Uzbek day, their stars as Shakhobiddin Zoirov, Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov and Bakhodir Jalolov all won their contests with powerful style of boxing.
The Governor Cup is also a preparation event before the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships therefore Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sent boxers from the Asian continent. All of these countries are strongly strengthening the Governor Cup which is a traditional international elite tournament for the male boxers.
Boxers who were born between 1981 and 2002 are eligible to attend in the men’s international tournament at the Governor Cup. The Russian organizers arranged money prizes besides to the medals which increased the importance of the competition. Boxers from the light flyweight (49kg) up to the super heavyweight (+91kg) can compete in ten categories in the annual Governor Cup which returned to the boxing map after two years of break.
Uzbekistan’s Olympic Games winner and AIBA World Champion Shakhobiddin Zoirov is also attending in the Governor Cup which is part of his preparation to the upcoming ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships and Olympic Games. Zoirov met with Kyrgyzstan’s younger Nurzhigit Dyushebayev in the flyweight (52kg) he won all of the rounds in each scorecard in St. Petersburg.
Zoirov’s main rival, India’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist and Asian Games winner Amit Panghal had a veteran rival at the flyweight (52kg) in St. Petersburg. Russia’s Tamir Galanov earned bronze medal at the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships but his current skills were not enough against the quick Indian who bowed out local favourite in the Governor Cup.
Uzbekistan’s next big hope, AIBA World Champion and ASBC Asian Champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov had another tough opponent in the quarter-finals of the featherweight (57kg), a boxer from Thailand, Chatchai Decha Butdee. Both boxers qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games therefore the contest was a strong test for them in St. Petersburg. Mirzakhalilov moved ahead and his confident style delivered for him a victory in the Governor Cup over his veteran ASBC Asian Champion Thai opponent.
Uzbekistan’s defending AIBA World Champion and two-time ASBC Asian Champion Bakhodir Jalolov has got a strong competition schedule before the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Governor Cup is one of his steps. The Uzbek super heavyweight (+91kg) boxer spent a very short time in the ring when he faced with Russia’s Artem Fedorov on Day3. Jalolov’s athletic skills were not matched with the Russian boxer’s condition therefore Fedorov’s ringside abandoned the unequal fight.
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