By Alexey Sukachev
It’s one day left of 2013 AIBA world amateur boxing championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan. After lazy Thursday, when fighters had a day off, semifinals have been conducted today. Filled in with upsets, scandals and robberies the tourney reaches its peak tomorrow, when all ten gold medalists will be defined.
One weight division, which got through the semifinals with relative quietness were light flyweights. #1-seeded Birzhan Zhakypov improved his shape over the tourney and now looks to be a clear favorite in tomorrow final with little-known Mohamed Flissi of Algeria.
#1 vs. #2 collision was spoilt at flyweight limit, where Welshman Andrew Selby was upset by Uzbek competitor Jasourbek Latipov. Unlike Selby, #2 Misha Aloyan of Russia didn’t disappoint in a confident win over tough Thai Chatchai Butdee.
Not one but two dubious decision marred the story of bantamweight class. Firstly, local favorite Kairat Yeraliev was soundly defeated by AIBA judges in a winning performance against Azeri fighter Jawid Chalabiyev. Free-swinging banger Yeraliev looked to be a clear winner in all rounds but fell to what was a bad eye to amateur boxing – yet another one. Also, many thought that Russian Vladimir Nikitin was lucky enough to get win over the last standing Ukrainian Mykola Butsenko, a sad remnant of Ukraine’s recent golden squad.
Local fans also cried robbery after their representative at lightweight limit Berik Abdrakhmanov lost to the Cuban Lazaro Estrada but it didn’t look like a robbery in any way. Facing Estrada in the finals is Brazilian Robson Conceicao, who eliminated #1-seeded Italian Valentino.
Where Conceicao triumphed, his compatriot Everton Lopez failed, becoming yet another highly rated fighter, who missed the finals, following a loss to obscure but talented Kazakh Merey Akshalov. The latter will have a very demanding test tomorrow versus highly regarded Cuban light welterweight Yasnier Lopez.
Another Cuba vs. Kazakhstan showdown is set at the welterweight limit, where Daniyar Yeleussinov, one of the favorites to be named the best fighter of the championship, will be pitted against Arisnoidys Despaigne in what should be helluva fight.
Artem Chebotarev, Yeleussinov’s most probable (previously) opponent in a virtual fight for the best boxer award, disappointed Russian fans with a lackluster performance against Irish Jason Quigley. Chebotarev, who scored 3 stoppages in 4 fights before this point, lost convincingly, while Quigley will be matched against another Kazakh Zhanibek Alimkhanuly.
Adilbek Niyazymbetov and Julio Peraza will complete a three-fight sub-match between the Kazakh and Cuban teams, as both favorites cruised to the light heavyweight final with visible ease.
Heavyweight Teymur Mammadov’s sweet road came to an end in a fight versus 2007 champion Clemente Russo. Russo clearly dominated the Azerbaijani performer, who was very lucky to be here at first place, following his undeserved win against Erislandy Savon. Russo will now face Russian Tischenko, who scored a hard-fought win over Yamil Peralta.
Finally, super heavyweight collision will be without any surprise – both Magomedrasul Medzhidov and Ivan Dychko went to the final, although Medzhidov was forced to work extra hard against famed Italian veteran Roberto Cammarelle.
All in all, only three #1-seeded fighters will be presented in the finals (Zhakypov, Niyazymbetov and Medzhidov). Kazakhstan dominates with six finalists, Cuba is second with four, and Team Russia will be represented by three boxers in the finals.
Semifinals
Winners are listed first.
Light flyweight (108 lbs)
1. Birzhan Zhakypov (KAZ, #1) – Yosbany Veitia Soto (CUB, #5) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:27, 30:27)
2. Mohamed Flissi (ALG) – David Rodriguez (CRC) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:27, 30:27)
Flyweight (114 lbs)
1. Jasourbek Latipov (UZB, #4) – Andrew Selby (WAL, #1) – 2:1 (29:28, 29:28, 28:29)
2. Misha Aloyan (RUS, #2) – Chatchai Butdee (THA) – 3:0 (30:27, 29:28, 29:28)
Bantamweight (123 lbs)
1. Jawid Chalabiyev (AZE) – Kairat Yeraliev (KAZ, #8) – 2:1 (29:28, 29:28, 28:29)
2. Vladimir Nikitin (RUS, #10) – Mykola Butsenko (UKR, #6) – 2:1 (30:27, 29:28, 28:29)
Lightweight (132 lbs)
1. Robson Conceicao (BRA, #4) – Domenico Valentino (ITA, #1) – 3:0 (30:26, 29:27, 29:27)
2. Lazaro Estrada (CUB) – Berik Abdrakhmanov (KAZ, #6) – 2:1 (30:27, 30:27, 28:29)
Light welterweight (141 lbs)
1. Merey Akshalov (KAZ, #5) – Everton Lopez (BRA, #1) – 2:1 (30:27, 29:28, 28:29)
2. Yasnier Lopez (CUB) – Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg (MGL, #2) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:27, 30:27)
Welterweight (152 lbs)
1. Daniyar Yeleussinov (KAZ, #4) – Araik Marutjan (GER, #9) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:27, 30:27)
2. Arisnoidys Despaigne (CUB) – Gabriel Maestre (VEN, #3) – 3:0 (30:26, 30:27, 30:27)
Middleweight (178 lbs)
1. Jason Quigley (IRL, #5) – Artem Chebotarev (RUS) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:27, 29:28)
2. Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (KAZ, #6) – Anthony Fowler (ENG) – WO
Light Heavyweight (178 lbs)
1. Adilbek Niyazymbetov (KAZ, #1) – Oybek Mamazulunov (UZB, #4) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:26, 30:26)
2. Julio Peraza (CUB, #2) – Joseph Ward (IRL, #6) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:27, 30:27)
Heavyweight (201 lbs)
1. Clemente Russo (ITA, #4) – Teymur Mammadov (AZE, #1) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:27, 30:27)
2. Evgueny Tischenko (RUS) – Yamil Peralta (ARG, #2) – 2:1 (30:27, 29:28, 28:29,)
Super Heavyweight (201+ lbs)
1. Magomedrasul Medzhidov (AZE, #1) – Roberto Cammarelle (ITA, #4) – 3:0 (28+:28, 28+:28, 29:27)
2. Ivan Dychko (KAZ, #2) – Eric Pfeifer (GER, #6) – 3:0 (30:27, 30:27, 29:28)