By Alexey Sukachev
Annual International Kostya Tszyu Cup has kicked off this Thursday night in an old Siberian city of Tyumen. This time the tournament is promoted by young promoter Kira Plotnikova, the spouse of the late Russian boxing personality Alexey Plotnikov, who tragically died in car crash two and a half years ago.
The tournament is held at light welterweight limit – at the very same weight class where Russian/Australian boxing legend competed over the course of his entire pro career. The tournament will consist of four stages pre-planned for May, July, September and December. Sixteen boxers are divided in two groups with eight fighters in each one. Boxers are eliminating themselves in play-off; the winner of group “A” fighting with the winner of group “B” in the final. The new Cup-holder will then collide with the previous victor Fariz Kazimov (11-1-1, 3 KOs) in the superfinal.
Group “A”: Dmitry Ganiev (11-0-1, 5 KOs), Dmitry Mikhailenko (5-0, 1 KO), Timur Gimaev (9-2-1, 3 KOs), Albert Valeev (7-3, 3 KOs), Ivan Kaberkon (4-3, 3 KOs), Vyacheslav Yakovenko (7-10-1, 3 KOs), Alexey Shorokhov (2-1, 2 KOs) and Anatoly Sidorov (4-3-1).
Group “B”: Victor Izhak (3-0, 2 KOs), Fedor Mushtranov (2-1, 1 KO), Kirill Sobolev (0-2), David Avanesyan (3-1), Armen Israelyan (pro debutant), Alexey Martynov (1-0), Rustam Starikov (0-1) and Igor Shiriyaev (1-0). The latter two were then replaced by Kirill Artemiev (1-20) and Alexey Glukhov (pro debutant).
First stage results – Group “A”:
Mikhailenko MD 4 Gimaev
Valeev MD 4 Yakovenko
Sidorov UD 4 Kaberkon
Ganiev UD 4 Shorokhov
First stage results – Group “B”:
Avanesyan UD 4 Israelyan
Mushtranov KO 2 Sobolev
Martynov draw 4 Sobolev
Glukhov UD 4 Artemiev
