By Alexey Sukachev

Ukrainian amateur boxing enjoys clearly one of the best sportive moments in its history. All five semi-finalists out of the western neighbor of Russia have broken through to the finals of 2011 AIBA world championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Ukraine clearly dominates the competition, outscoring the sport’s traditional leaders – Russia, Cuba and Kazakhstan.

Ukraine’s most impressive fighter is Denis Berinchik, who hadn’t been expected to shine in Baku but stunned everyone with his rare mixture of toughness, physical prowess and sheer determination. In the semi-final Berinchik crushed Thomas Lee Stalker, one of the best European fighter in all weights, outtoughing and outpunching him 31:18 to get into the final. His opponent Everton Lopez from Brazil is another Baku sensation, who showed both power and sound technique throughout an entire tournament.

Both Berinchik and Lopez are also frontrunners for the Best Boxer award; other favorites being two-time world champion Serik Sapiyev and Japanese middleweight storm Ryuta Murata.

Two teams clearly disappointed their fans this year. An American letdown was expected, while the downfall of Team Russia surprised many fans in a negative way. The United States lost its last competitor tonight, when Rau’Shee Warren lost a thin decision to Russian boxer Misha Aloyan – 13:17. Aloyan is the only finalist for Team Russia this year. Both David Ayrapetyan and Yegor Mekhontsev failed to reach the finals making this championship the worst for the Russian team in a long, long time.

Semi-final results

201+ pounds
Magomedrasul Madjidov (Azerbaijan) – Ivan Dychko (Kazakhstan) – 16:9
Anthony Oluwafemi Olasebi Joshua (England) – Erik Pfeifer (Germany) – TKO 1

201 pounds
Teymur Mammadov (Azerbaijan) – Xuanxuan Wang (China) – TKO 2
Olexander Usyk (Ukraine) – Sergey Korneev (Belarus) – 23:10

180 pounds
Adilbek Niyazimbetov (Kazakhstan) – Elshod Rasulov (Uzbekistan) – 11:9
Julio De La Cruz Peraza (Cuba) – Yegor Mekhontsev (Russia) – 21:15

165 pounds
Evgueny Khytrov (Ukraine) – Bogdan Juratoni (Romania) – TKO 2
Ryota Murata (Japan) – Esquiva Falcao Florentino (Brazil) – 24:11

152 pounds
Serik Sapiyev (Kazakhstan) – Egidijus Kavaliauskas (Lithuania) – TKO 2
Taras Shelestyuk (Ukraine) – Krishan Vikas (India) – 15:12

141 pounds
Denis Berinchik (Ukraine) – Thomas Lee Stalker (England) – 31:18
Everton Lopez (Brazil) – Vincenzo Magniacapre (Italy) – 16:7

132 pounds
Vasyl Lomachenko (Ukraine) – Domenico Valentino (Italy) – 17:11
Yasniel Toledo Lopez (Cuba) – Gani Jailauov (Kazakhstan) – 21:9

123 pounds
Lazaro Alvarez Estrada (Cuba) – Anvar Yunusov (Tajikistan) – 18:13
Luke Campbell (England) – John Nevin (Ireland) – 12(+):12(-)

114 pounds
Misha Aloyan (Russia) – Rau’Shee Warren (USA) – 17:13
Andrew Selby (Wales) – Jasurbek Latipov (Uzbekistan) – 21:15

108 pounds
Zou Shiming (China) – David Ayrapetyan (Russia) – 15:8
Jong Hoon Shin (South Korea) – Serdamba Purevdorj (Mongolia) – 20:11

Tags: Amateur Boxing