Mujibullo Tursunov wins the anticipated bout of the finals at the Zolotarev Memorial Tournament

Mujibullo Tursunov won the best fight of the finals and defeated Asadkhudja Muydinkhodjayev for the title of the light welterweight (64kg). Lazizbek Mullojonov was crowned at the super heavyweight (+91kg) while Aydos Tagaybayev became the youngest winner of the event.

The Valentin Zolotarev Memorial Tournament was an active preparation before their National Championships which is scheduled next month. The Valentin Zolotarev Memorial Tournament is a traditional elite competition in Uzbekistan and always holds in the city of Andizhan which is located in the Ferghana Valley. The last 2019 edition of the Zolotarev Memorial Tournament was an international event but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the new competition has been reduced to national level.

The city of Andizhan is famous of its boxing schools, many of the Uzbek stars started their careers in those gyms and clubs. Altogether 139 elite male boxers attended in the new edition of the Valentin Zolotarev Memorial Tournament in Andizhan where 10 champions have been crowned from the light flyweight (49kg) up to the super heavyweight (+91kg).

Ferghana represented the final of the light flyweight (49kg) with two boxers and among them Shodiyor Melikuziev defeated Abdujamshid Mannopov in the gold medal contest. Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament winner 18-year-old Shakhzod Muzaffarov competed at the Ulaanbaatar 2019 ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships and opened his elite campaign with a gold medal at the flyweight (52kg) over Samandar Yusupov.

ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Khurshidbek Rasuljonov impressed in the bantamweight (56kg) and the 19-year-old talent was able to beat ASBC Asian Youth Champion Samandar Kholmurodov. AIBA Youth World Champion and Youth Olympic Games winner Abdumalik Khalakov suffered a small injury therefore the lightweight (60kg) title was opened to Aydos Tagaybayev who became the youngest winner of the Zolotarev Memorial Tournament.

Mujibullo Tursunov claimed gold medal at the 2017 Uzbekistan Youth National Championships and achieved silver at the 2019 elite edition. The 21-year-old boxer had to meet in the final of the light welterweight (64kg) with Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament winner 19-year-old Asadkhudja Muydinkhodjayev which was the best fight of the day of the finals.  

ASBC Asian Junior Champion Javlonbek Yuldashev joined to the elite boxers this January and won the welterweight (69kg) proving his strength against Sadimboy Nasriddinov in the final winning that contest by RSC. The 21-year-old Saidjamshid Jafarov of Bukhara could be Uzbekistan’s new solution at the middleweight (75kg) who defeated Temurbek Sadullayev for the gold medal of the category. Both boxers had impressive junior and youth results during their careers and as elites their future are bright.

Bukhara’s defending ASBC Asian Youth Champion Sukhrobjon Kayimov moved up and advanced to the final of the light heavyweight (81kg) in Andizhan. The 19-year-old talent walked over to the gold medal following his experienced opponent, Shakhzod Mauzerov of Surkhondarya who was unable to box against him in the final.

ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist 20-year-old Javokhir Togaymurodov won the title of the heavyweight (91kg) after beating Koldoshboy Mamadaliyev. ASBC Asian Youth Champion Lazizbek Mullojonov is only 21 now but he could be Uzbekistan’s new Bakhodir Jalolov at the super heavyweight (+91kg) in the near future. Ferghana’s Mullojonov was too strong for Jamshidbek Hudayberganov and claimed the tenth title of the Zolotarev Memorial Tournament.

List of the winners in the Zolotarev Memorial Tournament
 49kg: Shodiyor Melikuziev
 52kg: Shakhzod Muzaffarov
 56kg: Khurshid Rasuljonov
 60kg: Aydos Tagaybayev
 64kg: Mujibullo Tursunov
 69kg: Javlonbek Yuldashev
 75kg: Saidjamshid Jafarov
 81kg: Sukhrobjon Kayimov
 91kg: Javokhir Togaymurodov
 +91kg: Lazizbek Mullojonov