Uzbek boxers four gold medals in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships

The new edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships has set up new records both in the number of the entering boxers and also in the number of the participating countries in Bangkok. Altogether 304 athletes including 112 women and 192 men boxers attended in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships from tomorrow.

The following 34 nations competed in Bangkok: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

Philippines’s Josie Gabuco won the first women final in Bangkok

Philippines’ Josie Gabuco won gold medal at the Qinhuangdao 2012 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and in the recent two years she returned with strong results. The Filipino light flyweight (48kg) eliminated Mongolia’s 12-year-younger Mungunsaran Balsan in the semi-final stage of the competition. Gabuco had to meet in the final with DPR Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi who is always dangerous for all opponents. The North Korean boxer was taller than the Filipino veteran but moved ahead more in the first two rounds. Josie Gabuco ruled the middle of the ring in the third round and celebrated her Asian title after the last gong in Bangkok.

The first title in the man part of the competition was earned by Uzbekistan’s Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov

Uzbekistan’s competed in the Amman 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and returned to the continental level after six years of break. The 25-year-old Uzbek eliminated a top rival Kyrgyzstan’s Mirlan Turkbay Uulu in the semi-final stage of the light flyweight (49kg). He had another difficult bout against India’s Deepak Singh who used longer distance in their tough final. Mirzakhmedov was never stopped attacking in their title contest and his stamina was enough to beat the technician Indian boxer.

Amit Panghal claimed India’s first title at the men’s flyweight (52kg)

India’s Amit Panghal claimed gold medal at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and moved up to the flyweight (52kg) in the recent months. Following his success over Uzbekistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games winner Hasanboy Dusmatov in the quarter-final, he was confident in the semi-finals and in his title bout as well. He had to meet with South Korea’s Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Kim In Kyu for the title and reduced the fighting distance successfully to win his next Asian title.

DPR Korea’s Pang Chol Mi was confident after the semi-finals and won gold at the women’s flyweight (51kg)

DPR Korea’s Pang Chol Mi is the reigning AIBA Women’s World Champion at the flyweight (51kg) who eliminated China’s Asian Games winner Chang Yuan in the semi-finals which was a strong revenge in their repeat match. She had to face for the gold medal with Vietnam’s defending ASBC Asian Women’s Champion Nguyen Thi Tam. Pang was focused from the first seconds to all of her steps and avoided the Vietnamese counter-attacks in the opening minutes. The North Korean increased her rhythm in the second and demonstrated that she is Asia’s No.1 at the women’s flyweight (51kg).

Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov and Mongolia’s Erdenebat Tsendbaatar are still in thrones of Asia

Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov had a strong year in 2018 when he defeated all of his national rivals and won the gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games. The Uzbek bantamweight (56kg) boxer repeated that performance in Bangkok and triumphed over India’s Kavinder Singh Bisht in the final of the event. Another Asian Games gold medallist, Mongolia’s Erdenebat Tsendbaatar remained on the top of the continent as Mirzakhalilov who won the title of the lightweight (60kg) in Bangkok. The 23-year-old Mongolian defeated Kazakhstan’s Zakir Safiullin in the final who achieved his second silver medal during his career in the history of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships.

Virtuoso Chinese girls won their titles in Bangkok

China’s Shi Qian is a newcomer in the national team but her technical skills impressed all experts in the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships. The Chinese boxer controlled her final against Chinese Taipei’s younger Huang Hsiao Wen and her virtuoso technique was enough to win her first top event.

Yang Wenlu was AIBA Women’s World Champion at the light welterweight (64kg) in 2016 and she claimed her first big title at the lightweight (60kg) in Bangkok. China’s experienced boxer was slightly quicker than Chinese Taipei’s Wu Shih Yi and celebrated the gold medal after the last gong. Dou Dan defeated India’s Simranjit Kaur in the semi-final of the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships last October and she was able to repeat that result in Bangkok as well.

Fantastic Tajikistan vs. Jordan final battle was held at the men’s light welterweight (64kg)

Tajikistan’s new sensation Shopokov Memorial Tournament winner Bakhodur Usmonov eliminated Kazakhstan’s ASBC Asian Youth Champion Sanatali Toltayev using his world class footwork in the semi-finals. Following his hard road to the finals he was still enough fresh to keep his level on the top against Jordan’s Obada Al-Kasbeh who was silver medallist at the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and achieved bronze at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games. As it is predicted Jordan’s No.1 moved ahead but Usmonov was a hard target due his excellent technical skills in the first round. Jordan’s best boxer was never stopped attacking in their fantastic contest but Usmonov’s counter-punches decided their close bout in Bangkok. Usmonov won Tajikistan’s first title in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships since Anvar Yunusov’s gold in 2011.

Chinese Taipei had four finalists in the Bangkok which shows their strong development

Chinese Taipei had four female finalists in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok which shows their strong development. AIBA Women’s World Champion Lin Yu Ting moved up to the featherweight (57kg) but she used her quick attacks to beat Thailand’s Nilawan Techasuep in the final of the event. Their second AIBA Women’s World Champion Chen Nien Chin also impressed in the final of the welterweight (69kg) but surprisingly Gu Hong’s hand was raised after the last gong. Their further youngsters as Huang Hsiao Wen (54kg) and Wu Shih Yi (60kg) both claimed silver medals in Bangkok.

Kazakhstan’s duo Kulakhmet and Nurmaganbet won their titles in Bangkok

Kazakhstan’s Tursynbai Kulakhmet started his final in different rhythm as India’s Ashish Kumar and landed high number of shots in the first round. The Kazakh boxer dominated the fight from the first seconds and achieved the title of the men’s middleweight (75kg) which is his career highlight. Kazakhstan’s second gold medal was taken by Bek Nurmaganbet who eliminated his main rival Uzbekistan’s Dilshodbek Ruzmetov still in the quarter-finals. The 21-year-old Kazakh light heavyweight (81kg) boxer dominated his final against Philippines’ Southeast Asian Games winner Jon Nobel Marvin Tupas.

Following his success over Levit South Korea’s Kim Hyeong Kyu won the men’s heavyweight (91kg)

South Korea’s Incheon 2011 ASBC Asian Champion Kim Hyeong Kyu delivered a strong surprise when he stopped Kazakhstan’s three-time Champion Vasiliy Levit in the semi-final of the heavyweight (91kg). The Korean boxer was not enough shape in the recent years but he arrived to Bangkok with high confidence. Kim has done smart boxing also in the final against Uzbekistan’s Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sanjar Tursunov. The final verdict was split decision in the favour of the South Korean who returned to the top of the continent after eight years of break.

Bakhodir Jalolov remained Asia’s best at the men’s super heavyweight (+81kg)

One of the most anticipated fights was the final of the men’s super heavyweight (+91kg) where Asia’s two bests such as Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov and Kazakhstan’s Kamshybek Kunkabayev met each other once again in a repeat title contest. The Uzbek boxer used his height advantage to keep the best fighting distance in one of the tightest bouts of the seventh competition day in Bangkok. Jalolov remained on the top of the Asian continent and won Uzbekistan’s fourth gold medal in Thailand’s capital.

List of the winners in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships

 Women’s 48kg: Josie Gabuco, Philippines

 Women’s 51kg: Pang Chol Mi, DPR Korea

 Women’s 54kg: Shi Qian, China

 Women’s 57kg: Lin Yu Ting, Chinese Taipei

 Women’s 60kg: Yang Wenlu, China

 Women’s 64kg: Dou Dan, China

 Women’s 69kg: Gu Hong, China

 Women’s 75kg: Li Qian, China

 Women’s 81kg: Pooja Rani, India

 Women’s +81kg: Yang Xiaoli, China

 Men’s 49kg: Nodirjon Mirzakhmedov, Uzbekistan

 Men’s 52kg: Amit Panghal, India

 Men’s 56kg: Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov, Uzbekistan

 Men’s 60kg: Erdenebat Tsendbaatar, Mongolia

 Men’s 64kg: Bakhodur Usmonov, Tajikistan

 Men’s 69kg: Bobo-Usmon Baturov, Uzbekistan

 Men’s 75kg: Tursynbai Kulakhmet, Kazakhstan

 Men’s 81kg: Bek Nurmaganbet, Kazakhstan

 Men’s 91kg: Kim Hyeong Kyu, South Korea

 Men’s +91kg: Bakhodir Jalolov, Uzbekistan