Uzbekistan's Shakhram Giyasov becomes Asia’s hero in the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships

The last competition day was held at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Hamburg where 10 gold medal bouts were in the official program. Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giyasov won his final yesterday evening and celebrated his first ever AIBA World Boxing Championships title.

Asia had altogether amazing number of 15 semi-finalists in the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships and among our hopes 7 were able to go through to the finals in Germany. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Mongolia and India won the medals for our continent in Hamburg.

Light flyweight (49kg):

Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner and two-time ASBC Asian Champion Hasanboy Dusmatov eliminated Costa Rica’s taller Robinson Rodriguez, India’s Amit Panghal and a strong Colombian opponent, Yuberjen Martinez in the road to the finals in Hamburg. Their semi-final contest was the repeat match of the final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Dusmatov met in the final with Cuba’s defending AIBA World Champion Joahnys Oscar Argilagos which bout delivered a superb first round. The Uzbek boxer attacked from the first seconds and launched more punches than his Cuban opponent who tried to organize his defence against his star rival. The final verdict was split decision to the Cuban boxer who defended his throne causing a big surprise.

Flyweight (52kg):

Uzbekistan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Jasurbek Latipov arrived to Hamburg as ASBC Asian Champion and a secret favourite. He eliminated Puerto Rico’s 20-year-old Yankiel Rivera, Bulgaria’s two-time EUBC European Champion Daniel Asenov, Colombia’s Ceiber David Avila and South Korea’s Kim In Kyu which was the repeat match of the final of the Tashkent 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The Uzbek boxer tried to do his best against his Cuban opponent but his efforts were not enough to win the gold medal bout in Hamburg. Latipov claimed two silver and one bronze medal during his career in the AIBA World Boxing Championships.

Bantamweight (56kg):

Kazakhstan’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kairat Yeraliyev eliminated a taller opponent Mexico’s Christopher Florez, Uzbekistan’s seed No.1 Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Germany’s Omar El Hag and England’s EUBC European Champion rising star Peter McGrail in the road to the finals. The 27-year-old Kazakh boxer was tactically strong in his previous contests and he had a well-built game plan against United States’ Chemistry Cup winner Duke Ragan. Yeraliyev lost to his US opponent in the Chemistry Cup this year which was also held in Germany but this time he used better tactic and won the gold medal in Hamburg. Yeraliyev joined to the national team in 2012 and his five years of experiences paid off in the final of the AIBA World Boxing Championships.

Light welterweight (64kg):

Uzbekistan’s defending ASBC Asian Champion and one of the youngest team member in Hamburg, Ikboljon Kholdarov enjoyed his contests in the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships and advanced to the finals. The Uzbek boxer eliminated Colombia’s John Lennon Gutierrez, Germany’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Artem Harutyunyan and United States’ 19-year-old Freudis Rojas in the previous contests. The Uzbek boxer advanced to the final in his first ever AIBA World Boxing Championships where he had to meet with an unbeaten Cuban rival, Andy Cruz. The Uzbek boxer lost to his Cuban opponent in the Season VII of the World Series of Boxing. Both boxers did tricky games in the final in Hamburg and the 20-year-old young Uzbek was near to beat his Cuban rival but their second meeting delivered the same result, Andy Cruz’s success.

Welterweight (69kg):

Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist Shakhram Giyasov was seeded No.1 in Hamburg but he had such a hard road to the finals in Hamburg. The 24-year-old defending ASBC Asian Champion triumphed over Ukraine’s Ievgenii Barabanov, England’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist Pat McCormack and Kazakhstan’s Ablaikhan Zhussupov which was the repeat match of the gold medal bout of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. Giyasov began the contest with a strong right-handed jab and ruled the middle of the ring in the first round. The Uzbek boxer enjoyed the contest from the second round and played with his Cuban opponent using his tricky style. Giyasov dominated all of the rounds with his attacking style and celebrated his gold medal after the confirmation of the bout.

Middleweight (75kg):

Kazakhstan’s WSB Team Champion and ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Abilkhan Amankul lost only three contests in the recent two and half years and arrived as a favourite to Hamburg. The 20-year-old Kazakh boxer eliminated Australia’s Campbell Sommerville, Germany’s Silvio Schierle, did revenge against Cuba’s Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Arlen Lopez and dominated his semi-final against Azerbaijan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medallist Kamran Shakhsuvarly in Hamburg. Amankul had to meet in the final with Ukraine’s EUBC European Champion Oleksandr Khyzhniak who was unbeaten this year. The younger Kazakh boxer tried to avoid Khyzhniak’s energetic punches with his footwork but his European rival was amazingly offensive and won the title in Hamburg.

Super heavyweight (+91kg):

Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Kamshybek Kunkabayev is a strong boxer in this weight class which he proved in the AOB and WSB events previously. The 26-year-old Kazakh boxer eliminated Germany’s Max Keller, did a classical revenge against defending ASBC Asian Champion, Bakhodir Jalolov of Uzbekistan in the quarter-final and dominated his semi-final against Cameroon’s Arsene Fokou. Kunkabayev, who replaced Ivan Dychko in the national team, faced with Azerbaijan’s two-time AIBA World Champion Mahammadrasul Majidov for the title. Kunkabayev was a hard target for the Azeri boxer in the first round when the Kazakh boxer used his speed. Majidov increased his rhythm in the second round and his clear punches delivered for him his third title in Hamburg while Kunkabayev achieved silver in his first ever AIBA World Boxing Championships.