AIBA Boxing News January - June 2015 by Martin Hines

Boxing News January - June 2015 | No. 14

ASTANA ARLANS CLAIM SECOND WSB CHAMPIONS TITLE

BOXING MAKES HISTORY AT THE BAKU 2015 GAMES

APB WORLD CHAMPIONS READY TO DEFEND THEIR BELTS

NEW BOXING TALENT UNVEILED IN TAIPEI

AIBA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE LOOKING TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE Dear Members of the Boxing Family, In this latest edition of Boxing News, you will find articles about our champions and our latest competitions that took place all over the world as our sport lives and breathes regardless of time zone. The first half of 2015 started off in a dynamic pace for AIBA and all its member federations as AIBA Commission met in Lausanne setting the 2015 agenda and ensuring we are collectively aligned with the current strategy. We also recently had significant changes in the AIBA Senior Management as Mr Karim Bouzidi has been appointed as the new AIBA Executive Director. It is time for our family and the world of boxing to move in a new direction and therefore I feel that new vision and leadership are paramount for us to achieve our four year plan, which was unanimously approved at the AIBA Congress in Jeju. I strongly believe that with Mr Karim Bouzidi leading the implementation of our agenda, boxing will soar to new heights. AIBA also made history by becoming the exclusive partner for all Cuban boxers whenever they compete in international boxing competitions. Signing officially this Memorandum of Understanding with the Cuban Boxing Federation is a significant milestone in AIBA’s history, and it highlights our commitment to support the very best boxing talent in the world during their entire careers. We are very grateful for the trust and the long lasting relationships developed with the Cuban Boxing Federation toward our organization. On the sporting side, we have also successfully hosted the most highly anticipated Finals in WSB history, which took place on June 20 and June 21, when Season III Champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan hosted the defending Champions Cuba Domadores in Astana. These two world class Franchises battled out the historic two-legged Finals with unbelievable skill and courage. I would like to congratulate Astana Arlans Kazakhstan for the quality of the organization of the Finals and foremost for becoming the World WSB Champions for the second time. The very first edition of the European Games closed on 28 June in Baku, Azerbaijan. This has been a phenomenal event and awarding 16 different countries demonstrates the vitality and the strong appeal of men and women boxing in the European continent. Some of the best boxers in the world participated and won in their weight categories elevating our sport to the pinnacle of the first European Games. On 27 June we marked 100 Days To Go until AIBA World Boxing Championships in Doha, Qatar, which will definitely be the culmination of this year’s boxing calendar. I look forward to meeting you in the coming weeks and I hope you will enjoy reading this issue. Yours in boxing,

CONTENTS 1

President’s Message

AIBA News in Brief

AIBA New Executive Director

AIBA Youth Women Championships Taipei 2015

12 Baku 2015 1st European Games 22 APB Pre-Season Reviews 28 APB Cycle 1 30 APB World Champions 32 WSB Season V Regular Season 36 WSB Season V Playoffs 38 WSB Season V Finals 40 WSB Season V Rankings

CREDITS Executive Director Karim Bouzidi Editor-in-Chief William Louis-Marie Contributors Martin Hines, Iryna Mazur Graphic Design Fabio Zeppetella (AIBA) Photographers AIBA / WSB / APB, GettyImages Cover page photo The Kazakhstan Arlans after their second triumph in WSB Finals Printed in Switzerland.

CONTACTS AIBA - International Boxing Association Maison du Sport International Avenue de Rhodanie 54 1007 Lausanne / Switzerland Tel. (+41 21) 321 27 77 Fax (+41 21) 321 27 72 Email communication@aiba.org

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in “Boxing News” are not necessarily those of AIBA. The content of this publication is based on the best knowledge and information available at the time the articles were written.

NEWS IN BRIEF

2015 AIBA JOINT COMMISSION MEETINGS COMPLETED Members of 9 out of 11 AIBA Commissions convened for their 2015 meetings in Lausanne to discuss further development of boxing and AIBA. The core purposes of this year’s commission meetings were: • The development of the Implementation Plan after newly amended rules were released • The development of more qualified officials to accommodate all competition progresses • The development of future generation transit plan for long term sustainability of our management • Enhancing WSB program • Supporting the successful launch of APB • Long-term strategy of Women Boxing development • Strengthening the AOB competition property After each commission meeting, which took place on 4 February, nine of the 11 Commissions presented their recommendations for the development of various aspects of boxing. The other two commissions, Ethics and Scientific Commissions will hold their meetings at a later stage. 2 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

“I am delighted to welcome all of the newly appointed Commissions Members and Chairpersons in Lausanne for their first meetings since all new commissions are formed after the 2014 AIBA Congress. The AIBA competitions, as well as our organization as a whole, are going through many changes and we need to make sure that all these developments are fully integrated to the highest standards. I am confident that with the new Members joining and new appointed Chairpersons we will successfully achieve our goal,” said Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, AIBA President. The Technical and Rules Commission and AIBA office will further review these recommendations and select the most appropriate ones and will present them to the AIBA EC Bureau for immediate implementations and/or for the approval by next July AIBA Executive Committee.

2015 AIBA COMMISSIONS MEETINGS AIBA PRESIDENT DR CHING-KUO WU BECOMES ASOIF VICE PRESIDENT

AIBA BOXING ACADEMY HOSTS 3-STAR REFEREE & JUDGES AND COACHES COURSE

The President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, became a Vice President of ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) at the new ASOIF Council Meeting after the ASOIF General Assembly decided to replace the departing previous Vice President, Mr Hassan Moustafa, President of the International Handball Federation (IHF).

The 3-Star R&J and Coaches course in the AIBA World Boxing Academy took place in May 2015 with the participants taking their final written examination and attending a one-on-one feedback session with their respective Instructors.

Dr Wu has been representing ASOIF in the IOC Executive Board since August 2012 and his roles in ASOIF will progressively significantly increase.

Coming from five different continents, a total of twenty nine (29) 2-Star R&Js participated in the AIBA 3-Star R&J course, and a total of nineteen (19) 2-Star and 3-Star Coaches participated in the AIBA 3-Star Coaches course. The Academy provides the most modern training facilities and programs, not only for the development of athletes but also for a wide range of experts, coaches, judges, doctors, sports managers and administrators. This sports complex is one of the main foundations for the further development and promotion of boxing. Classrooms as well as state-of-the-art gyms and boxing halls, equipped and staffed with the most modern equipment, are key for future champions. No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 3

NEWS IN BRIEF

AIBA BECOMES THE EXCLUSIVE PARTNER FOR ALL CUBAN BOXERS

Orbital to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) made history by becoming the exclusive partner for all Cuban boxers from the Cuban Boxing Federation whenever they compete in international boxing competitions.

AIBA President, Dr Ching-Kuo Wu was proud to mark the future union. “Signing this memorandum with the Cuban Boxing Federation is a significant step in AIBA’s history, and it highlights our commitment to supporting the very best boxing talent in the world. We are very grateful for the trust and commitment shown by FCB toward our organization.

A memorandum signed between AIBA and the Cuban Boxing Federation (FCB) commits that all FCB boxers will only compete in AIBA-approved competitions, including the World Series of Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Pro Boxing (APB). Both AIBA and the FCB have agreed that Cuban boxers will not be allowed to compete in any non-AIBA professional boxing competitions in order to protect them from being exploited by professional promoters as diplomatic doors with Cuba begin to open. Ahead of the British Lionheart’s final home match against the Cuba Domodores, AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu welcomed the two teams, as well as representatives from both GB Boxing and Cuba Boxing Federation, to the ArcellorMittal 4 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

President of Cuba Boxing Federation Mr. Alberto Puig de la Barca also expressed his delight at the signing of the memorandum. “Today is an important day for the development of Cuban boxing and I am happy to be a part of this historic event for our sport. This agreement will ensure that Cuban boxing continues to grow and prosper all over the world,” he said. With the British Lionhearts vs Cuba Domodores match-up taking place at the Copper Box Arena, the event was made even more significant by its location on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home of the London 2012 Olympics, reminding many of the young boxers of their Olympic goals.

AIBA BECOMES EXCLUSIVE PARTNER FOR CUBAN BOXERS BOXING IS OUT OF SPORTACCORD COMBAT GAMES

AIBA APPOINTS NEW PR & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) has decided to withdraw its participation in the SportAccord World Combat Games along with suspending its SportAccord membership following its AIBA Executive Committee’s decision on May 5, 2015.

AIBA has appointed Mr William Louis-Marie as its new PR & Communications Director. Mr William Louis-Marie has an extensive experience in world-class event and sport communications, media relations and promotions, having previously worked as Communications Director for the Baku 2015 European Games.

The AIBA President, Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, said “We have aimed to create a clear identity for the sport of boxing in the past 8 years of my Presidency. Boxing is a Noble Art and a traditional Olympic sport and we feel that the participation in the World Combat Games challenges this identity among boxing fans”. He also added that “It is with much regret that we suspend our membership with SportAccord with immediate effect. AIBA’s work is based on the Olympic values and it is the values of integrity and respect that we must protect first and foremost”. AIBA had been a member of SportAccord since 1967 and had previously participated in SportAccord World Combat Games in Saint-Petersburg in 2013 and in Beijing in 2010.

“I am thrilled to join AIBA and contribute to the strong development of boxing under the vision of the AIBA President, Dr Ching-Kuo Wu. The noble art is gaining massive attraction all over the world and the coming months will reinforce boxing’s amazing appeal with numerous high-profile continental events and the AIBA World Boxing Championships Doha 2015 leading up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games”, said Mr Louis-Marie. Mr William Louis-Marie has also worked for the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and the France 1998 FIFA World Cup as Communications Manager for Coca Cola France. Moreover, he held the position of Senior Vice President of Trace TV, managing the launch of Trace Sports. No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 5

AIBA NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR After having been recently appointed as AIBA Executive Director, Mr Karim Bouzidi gives details of his strategy and his priorities for the coming month. BOXING NEWS: In June you attended the WSB Finals and Baku 2015 European Games boxing competition. What are your thoughts on these competitions? KARIM BOUZIDI: Both competitions had brought us the highest quality of boxing and I was very impressed by our men and women boxers, specifically those who made history in Baku. The WSB Finals were probably one of the most anticipated and exciting boxing matches in the calendar this year and the clash proved to be worth the wait. We had the best teams in the WSB go head to head and I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate Astana Arlans, who perfectly claimed a second WSB Championship in front of their home supporters in Astana. However, the Cubans remain one of the most important boxing country in the world and we can expect a stronger and more motivated team for the next season of the WSB. BN: You have been involved in boxing for more than 20 years and now you have been appointed as Executive Director of AIBA. How do you think your previous experiences and your current role as WSB CEO, will help you to direct AIBA? KB: I have been involved in boxing from grass roots programmes to managing pro teams. I spent 2 years in Cuba in a training camp with my boxers and I had the opportunity to become a boxing manager then the winning GM of the French Franchise Paris United before joining AIBA in 2012 as the WSB CEO. I can say that this multi-faceted expertise helped me to have a real understanding of the noble art and I intend to build on these experiences for my mission as defined by our President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu. BN: What are the main priorities for the next 12 months? KB: We do not have time to rest and we need to ensure that boxing keeps shining as one of the most exciting sports in the world. Firstly, the 196 National Federations and the boxers are my priorities for the coming months. I need to ensure we are fully committed to serve the NFs and the Confederations in order to bring them the expertise and the support they are looking for; and I plan to visit many federations in the coming months to reinforce the collaboration between AIBA and its members. Secondly, in line with the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision, the African continent should receive more attention and I fully embrace this statement. Boxing remains very popular in many African countries but we are facing a lack of structure, coaches, equipment, which prevent African boxers from being more successful in many international competitions. AIBA should be at the forefront of this project and will take initiatives to create the necessary momentum for the development of boxing in this part of the world.

6 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

BN: The Olympic Games will start in 13 months. Can we expect Boxing to be one of the major sport of the Games? KB: Yes, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are the most anticipated event for the entire boxing family. Our future test event scheduled in December in the Olympic venue will allow us to test our readiness and ensure the boxers, the R&Js, the medical staff, the officials are ready eight months before the event. BN: 196 NFs are affiliated to AIBA. Can you do more? KB: I think that National Federations are vital for any International Federation, and for AIBA in particular. They represent our primary partners and we consistently need to address their needs and support their activities related to the boxers. Boxing is one of the most popular sport in the world and we have the right to be ambitious and join the group of Ifs with more than 200 members. BN: When you were younger who was the boxer who really contributed to your passion for boxing? KB: Honestly, the Greatest has changed the sport of boxing but I passionately admire the Cuban Teofilo Stevenson who won 3 Olympic gold medals in a row. He is one of the best athletes of the last century and a true human being. BN: One last word for our readers? KB: It is a real honor to occupy this position, and under the vision of our President Dr C-K Wu and with the full support of the boxing family, I feel extremely positive for the future of our sport.

AIBA COMPETITIONS

TAIPEI 2015

The 2015 edition of the AIBA Women’s Junior/ Youth World Boxing Championships was held at the Xinzhuang Stadium between May 14 and May 24 in Taipei, Taiwan. A total of 164 women boxers from 36 countries participated in the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships while Youth World Boxing Championships saw 133 boxers from 29 countries participate showcasing the best of the young boxing talent.

Prior to the start of the Championships, AIBA’s “Road to Taipei’ training program was held in Taipei at the beginning of May. This was an instalment of the “Road to Dream” development program created by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) which “This has been one of the is one of the most innovative and rewarding sporting initiatives in biggest women’s boxing the world, and offers athletes and events involving a great coaches from underprivileged and countries the opportunity number of participants, developing to participate in major AIBA events as which is a good sign that well as Olympic Games and to attend training camps in the buildwe are moving in the intensive up to competitions.

AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu said: “I would like to congratulate all the right direction for the participants and the winners of AIBA development of women’s AIBA provides each participant with airline tickets, accommodation, food Women’s Junior/Youth World Boxing boxing.” and drinks, full training facilities with Championships Taipei 2015 on a very equipment, training kits, gloves and successful event. This has been one Dr C-K. Wu, AIBA President headgear, full medical and massage of the biggest women’s boxing events involving a great number of participants, which is a good services as well as covering insurance, visa expenses and sign that we are moving in the right direction for the local transportation. development of women’s boxing”. 8 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

AIBA WOMEN’S JUNIOR/YOUTH WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS With eight boxers and six coaches representing eight countries and four continents (Asia, Africa, Europe and America), Road to Taipei continued the excellent precedent set by former editions of the Road to Dream Program. The Junior section of AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships Taipei 2015 featured many highly rated talents, with a large amount competing in their first ever international competition. Each boxer displayed endless amounts of skill and courage which will serve them well as they continue their careers in the sport. DPR Korea’s Won Un Gyong became the first boxer to win a gold medal in the Championships, and the youngest to prevail overall when she convincingly defeated Turkey’s Beyza Saracoglu in an entertaining final. The United States claimed their first of three Junior gold medals at Junior Light Flyweight (48 kg), as 15-year-old Heaven Garcia narrowly outpointed India’s Soniya.

India also achieved three gold medals in this section of the tournament, beginning with a tight win for Savita over Ukraine’s Kateryna Rohova at Junior Flyweight (50 kg). Savita’s teammate Mandeep Kaur Sandhu then delivered a second Indian gold as she defeated Ireland’s Golden Girl Women’s Junior Cup winner Niamh Earley in an engrossing contest. Despite having four years of boxing experience, United States’ Zhane Crockett was not the favourite heading into in her Junior Featherweight class (57 kg) final with Russia’s two-time National Champion Liudmilla Vorontsova, but managed to prevail after using many stinging right hands and clever counter-attacks. Three-time US National Champion Guadelupe Gutierrez then met with Donjeta Sadiku in the Junior Lightweight class (60 kg) final, with her opponent having already made history by becoming the first boxer from Kosovo to win a medal at an AIBA Championships.

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 9

TAIPEI 2015

In the final, both fighters produced strong performances full of effort and skill, but it was Gonzalez who was the superior athlete across all three rounds, as she used her power and speed to great effect. Two further entertaining clashes followed, with China’s Yu Lisai outpointing Kazakhstan’s Laila Kussainova, before Kussainova’s compatriot Nadezhda Ryabets beat USA’s Kylie Hall by split decision. Powerful Russian Anastasia Sigayeva outperformed India’s Niharika Gonella, while her teammate Anastasia Shamonova became the first boxer to defeat Ukraine’s Karolina Makhno at Junior Middleweight (75 kg). Elena Litvinova claimed the third Junior gold for Russia after a dazzling TKO win over Dina Islambekova, and Kristina Tkacheva achieved gold medal number four for her country after beating Germany’s Jessica Morka. After the Junior boxers had made their mark on the tournament, the more experienced Youth fighters then took to the ring in Taipei, and they were all eager to assert 10 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

themselves ahead of a future switch to the elite level of competition. Nations Women’s Youth Cup winner Yuliya Chumgalakova became the first of four Youth Russian gold medalists after she defeated DPR Korea’s Youth National Champion Kim Un Jong in the Youth Light Flyweight class (48 kg). China’s Chang Yuan defeated Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsiao Wen on the way to claiming a gold medal at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and their final rematch in Taipei was one of the greatest contests of the entire tournament. Both boxers came into the match on top form, but it was the Chinese southpaw who began strongly as her fast punches from range stood out. Huang was undeterred, and supported passionately by the local crowd soaked up the early pressure by countering Yuan’s output with accurate shots. Signifying her Champion status, Yuan came out in the

After the closing bell rang at the end of their breathtaking battle, Yuan claimed the Youth Flyweight class (51 kg) gold medal via a split decision verdict.

Lightweight (60 kg) contests in Taipei. EUBC European Women’s Junior Continental Champion Angela Carini was one of the most powerful boxers in the Championships, which enabled her to win gold at Youth Light Welterweight (64 kg) after defeating Russia’s Elizaveta Nemtseva.

An absorbing contest followed in the Youth Bantamweight class (54 kg) when Kazakhstan’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Balaussa Muzdiman survived an early onslaught from Italy’s Concetta Marchese to claim gold.

Two-time Russian National Champion Daria Semashko moved down one weight class before the start of the tournament, and her decision paid off as she outpointed Kazakhstan’s Bayan Akbayeva to secure the second Russian Youth gold at Welterweight (69 kg).

Italy’s AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion and Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games silver medallist Irma Testa is one of the most highly regarded young athletes in the world, and she lived up to her growing reputation with an impressive Youth Featherweight (57 kg) final win over Ukraine’s Anhelina Bondarenko.

Turkey’s Youth Middleweight (75 kg) Busenaz Surmeneli demonstrated a wide range of techniques in Taipei, and put them all together superbly in her final with China’s Zheng Lu.

second round with renewed vigour, and began to include vicious uppercuts in her repertoire

Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner Jajaira Gonzalez is currently in the midst of a flawless undefeated record, which continued all the way through her Youth

Russia’s final two gold medals of the tournament were also the last matches of the entire Championships, as AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Vlada Kalacheva first beat China’s Zhang Jie at the Youth Light Heavyweight class (81 kg), while Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska was unfit to box No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 11

TAIPEI 2015

in the final of the Youth Heavyweight class (81+kg) due to a shoulder injury, so AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Maria Shishmareva took Russia’s fourth Youth gold. The four Russian golds enabled them to top the medal standings at the Youth level, just as they also achieved in the Junior section of the tournament. Elsewhere, two Italian boxers won gold, while host nation Chinese Taipei claimed one silver and three bronze medals on home soil. Dominican Republic and Greece both secured their first ever medal in the history of the AIBA Women’s Junior/ Youth World Boxing Championships. International Boxing Association (AIBA) has praised the Taipei Local Organizing Committee for the successful organization of the event. The AIBA Women’s Junior/ Youth World Boxing Championships relied strongly on the hard work and determination of everybody involved, and attention will now turn to the next instalment of the world class event in 2017. 12 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

JUNIOR PINWEIGHT (44-46KG) WON Un Gyong SARACOGLU Beyza TUVAKOVA Karina URAKBAYEVA Zhazira

PRK TUR RUS KAZ

BANTAMWEIGHT (54KG) Sakshi RAMIREZ Yarisel TINTABTHAI P. LKHAGVADORJ Angarag

IND USA THA MGL

LIGHT FLYWEIGHT (48KG) GARCIA Heaven USA Soniya IND MUNGUNTSETSEG E. MGL PHUNSANG Chiranchaya KAZ

FEATHERWEIGHT (57KG) CROCKETT Zhane VORONTSOVA Liudmila MONKHOR Namuun KUKHTA Vladislava

USA RUS MGL KAZ

FLYWEIGHT (50KG) Savita ROHOVA Kateryna CUMENTOR Ayten LEONARD Kelsey

LIGHTWEIGHT (60KG) GUTIERREZ Guadalupe SADIKU Donjeta LIN Ya-Xuan DYNNIK Ekaterina

USA KOS TPE RUS

PRK UKR TUR IRL

LIGHT BANTAMWEIGHT (52KG) SANDHU Mandeep IND EARLEY Niamh IRL WONYOU Johanna FRA HUANG Jiawen CHN

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT (63KG) YU Lisai CHN KUSSAINOVA Lyailya KAZ IVANOVA Karina RUS SHPANIUK Anastasiya UKR

RESULTS YOUTH WELTERWEIGHT (66KG) RYABETS Nadezhda HALL Kylie KUZHELEVA Karina RICHARDS Joanne

LIGHT FLYWEIGHT (45-48KG) CHUMGALAKOVA Iuliia RUS KIM Un Jong PRK LO Ching-Ting TPE NGUYEN Thi Huyen P. VIE

LIGHTWEIGHT (60KG) GONZALEZ Jajaira THOUR Stephanie ICHSHANOVA Nazym TAKACS Timea

LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT (70KG) SIGAEVA Anastasiia RUS GONELLA Niharika IND SHERUNKOVA Yelena KAZ YUE Yuan CHN

FLYWEIGHT (51KG) CHANG Yuan HUANG Hsiao-Wen ALMANZAR DE LEON E. LEE Sukyeong

CHN TPE DOM KOR

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT (64KG) CARINI Angela ITA NEMTSEVA Elizaveta POL WALAS Justyna RUS ARISMENDEZ Ariel USA

MIDDLEWEIGHT (75KG) SHAMONOVA Anastasiia MAKHNO Karolina SADYKOVA Guzal GUNHAN Elif Sila

RUS UKR KAZ TUR

BANTAMWEIGHT (54KG) MUZDIMAN Balaussa MARCHESE Concetta LOGAN Natasha SAIDOVA Umeda

KAZ ITA IRL RUS

WELTERWEIGHT (69KG) SEMASHKO Daria AKBAYEVA Bayan LIANG Chia-chieh STOYKO Yuliya

RUS KAZ TPE UKR

HEAVYWEIGHT (80+KG) TKACHEVA Kristina MORKA Jessica KANDEMIR Nur Nihal DYADYUK Yuliya

RUS GER TUR UKR

FEATHERWEIGHT (57KG) TESTA Irma BONDARENKO Anhelina PITA Nikoleta BORO Jamuna

ITA UKR GRE IND

MIDDLEWEIGHT (75KG) SURMENELI Busenaz ZHENG Lu REID Chantelle KENNEY Iesha

TUR CHN ENG USA

KAZ USA RUS IRL

USA SWE KAZ HUN

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (81KG) KALACHEVA Vlada RUS ZHANG Jie CHN KIWAK Patrycja POL MUKYSHBEKOVA Altyn KAZ HEAVYWEIGHT (81+KG) SHISHMAREVA Maria KACZMARSKA Agata GADZHIYEVA Alina ZHUMASSOVA Zhanel

RUS POL AZE KAZ

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 13

BAKU 2015

The very first edition of the European Games opened on June 12 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the boxing competition beginning four days later on June 16. Across 12 exhilarating days, thousands of fans enjoyed the opportunity to experience hundreds of amazing boxing matches at the glorious Crystal Hall venue. 10 men’s (49 kg, 52 kg, 56 kg, 60 kg, 64 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg, 81 kg, 91 kg and +91 kg) and five women’s (51 kg, 54 kg, 60 kg, 64 kg and 75 kg) weight classes competed in the multi-sport event, with Europe’s best boxers all attempting to earn a coveted gold medal.

The very best athletes from AIBA Open Boxing (AOB), AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) and the World Series of Boxing (WSB) all performed exceptionally well to display the world class talent contained within the entire AIBA family.

“These first European Games are a great opportunity for our boxers in 10 men’s and 5 women’s weight classes to compete in such a multi-sports event” Dr C-K. Wu, AIBA President

For the first time ever, European boxers from all three of AIBA’s competitions battled against each other, with a total of 220 men and 66 women boxers competing.

14 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

In addition to the 15 coveted gold medals on offer, 30 quotas for the AIBA World Boxing Championships Doha 2015 were granted for the top three boxers in each men’s category, which gave added significance to each and every bout. Prior to the beginning of the Games, there had been much anticipation in many sporting circles regarding the boxing competition.

“These first European Games are a great opportunity for our boxers in 10 men’s and five women’s weight classes to compete in such a multi-sports event” said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu at the start of the Games, and his words proved salient as boxing

1ST EUROPEAN GAMES enchanted and electrified both the spectators in Baku, and the millions of fans watching across the globe. Signifying the prestigious status of the European Games, Azerbaijan, Germany and Russia all sent the maximum number of 15 boxers to Baku, while Ukraine, France, Britain, Italy and Ireland also produced strong squads with multi-medal expectations. From the very first bout in the competition it was clear that each boxer was giving their absolute all, and the preliminary rounds produced countless performances which would have perfectly graced the canvas in many of the greatest boxing events of the past. Britain’s Muhammad Ali lived up to his iconic namesake on Day 1 as he outpointed Moldovan veteran Alexandr Risca, while Ukraine’s young star Viktor Petrov eliminated Bulgaria’s Airin Ismetov in the best bout of the second day. Hosts Azerbaijan joined the action on Day 3, and victories for Teymur Mammadov and Lorenzo Sotomayor Collazo signified their intent to win big on home soil.

The women fighters began their tournament on the fourth day, where Nouchka Fontijn superbly defeated Britain’s former AIBA Women’s World Champion Savannah Marshall, while Hungary’s two-time Olympian Miklos Varga returned to form in spectacular fashion a day later. Katie Taylor led her Irish team to a clean sweep of success on Day 6, and fellow London 2012 Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams defeated Bulgarian rival Stoyka Petrova in their quarter-final match the following day The all important semi-final matches then dominated the proceedings, as the bouts once again increased in terms of intensity and excitement. Despite the wealth of talent in the women’s Flyweight (51 kg) division, it was clear from the outset that Nicola Adams was the best boxer in the weight class, and she achieved the inaugural boxing gold medal in Baku with a spirited win over Poland’s Sandra Drabik on Day 10. Adams had also become the first woman to win a boxing gold at both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, so it

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 15

BAKU 2015

was perhaps fate that she once again wrote her name into the record books after her deserved victory. “It feels so good to bring yet another piece of history home to Britain. I trained hard, and I showed everybody what I am all about. I have no problems with injuries. My shoulder is fine and I hope it will stay that way when it is time to qualify for the Rio 2016” commented Adams after her success. Four further gold medals were awarded that day, starting with Dutch supremo Nouchka Fontijn winning the women’s Middleweight (75 kg) final with a classy performance over Sweden’s Anna Laurell Nash. The first men’s gold medalist came in the Light flyweight (49 kg) division, as Russia’s Bator Sagaluev edged a narrow split decision victory over Ireland’s Brendan Irvine after the completion of their dazzling contest. Sagaluev’s compatriot Bakhtovar Nazirov then made it a brace of Russian golds when he defeated Belarusian fighter Dzmitry Asanau by split decision in the men’s Bantamweight (56 kg) final. 16 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

Much to the delight of the passionate crowd inside the Crystal Hall venue, Azerbaijan’s London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Teymur Mammadov won the last gold of the day as he used his famous counter-attacking ability to great effect against Italian WSB hero Valentino Manfredonia. Mammadov’s unanimous decision victory earned him the highest honour of the Light heavyweight (81 kg) division, and the Azeri athlete was cheered rapturously when he received his medal. On the following day, five more gold medals made their way to the successful boxers, beginning with Elena Saveleva using her experience and tenacity to beat Italy’s Marzia Davide in the women’s Bantamweight (54 kg) final, which earned Russia their third triumph of the event. Russia’s Anastasia Beliakova arrived in Baku as the defending AIBA Women’s World Champion and EUBC European Women’s Continental Champion, and she finished the event by becoming European Games Champion as well.

Beliakova defeated Italy’s new sensation Valentina Alberti in the women’s Light Welterweight (64 kg) final, with her victory also signifying the fourth Russian gold. Azerbaijan then achieved two successive gold medals in their home event, starting with a tremendous men’s Flyweight (52 kg) win for Elvin Mamishzada over Italy’s former AIBA World Championships and Olympic Games bronze medalist Vincenzo Picardi. Another Azeri victory over an Italian occurred in the men’s Light welterweight (64 kg) final, when Lorenzo Sotomayor Collazo produced a tactical masterclass over Vincenzo Mangiacapre. The final gold medal of Day 11 was awarded to Britain’s 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist and World Series of Boxing sensation Joseph Joyce, who survived a shaky first round to control his Super heavyweight (91+ kg) final with Russia’s two-time National Champion Gasan Gimbatov. Day 12 represented the end of the boxing competition, and the last five finals produced even more magic for the viewing public.

Ireland’s Katie Taylor role as an ambassador for the European Games signified her status as one of the most recognisable athletes in Baku, and the five-time AIBA World Champion and London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist lived up to her reputation with yet another triumph. Taylor has not lost in four years, but was pushed all the way in her semi-final with Azerbaijan’s Yana Alekseevna, before enjoying a more comfortable victory in the women’s Lightweight (60 kg) final against France’s Estelle Mossely. “Thank God for another great victory. I felt a bit tired after yesterday’s bout, but I managed to pull through. I had to be very clever in there as my French opponent is a very tricky boxer but I think I won every round. I am just delighted with the tactics, I think they were spot on as per usual from my dad. I am so lucky to have some of the best coaches in the world in my corner. I want to go down in the history books as the greatest women’s boxer of all time,” said Taylor after claiming her 18th gold medal in a major event. 2007 AIBA World Boxing Champion Albert Selimov was one of the best boxers in Season V of the World Series of No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 17

BAKU 2015

Boxing, and the Azeri star also enjoyed gold medal success in Baku when he put on an unbelievable boxing clinic in his Lightweight (60 kg) final with France’s Sofiane Oumiha. Azerbaijan’s second winner on the last competition day was EUBC European Youth Continental Champion Parviz Baghirov, who used quick attacks and aggression to defeat Russia’s Alexander Besputin at Welterweight (69 kg). The second Irish triumph of the European Games then took place in the men’s Middleweight (75 kg) final, when European Union Championships silver medallist Michael O’Reilly’s excellent uppercuts and hooks resulted in a wonderful victory against Azerbaijan’s Xaybula Musalov.

Magomedov, and he later secured Azerbaijan’s sixth gold medal after his Ukrainian opponent Gevorg Manukian was unable to compete in their final.

“I had to be very clever in there as my French opponent is a very tricky boxer but I think I won every round. I want to go down in the history books as the greatest women’s boxer of all time.” Katie Taylor

Powerful Azeri Heavyweight (91 kg) Abdulkadir Abdullayev thanked his home fans for giving him much needed strength in his tight semi-final with Russia’s Saddam 18 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

Azerbaijan topped the overall medal standings with six gold, one silver and four bronze medals, with Russia finishing second with four gold, two silver and four bronze medals. Italy secured five second place finishes, while Germany claimed five bronze medals in Baku, as Ukraine earned a single silver and four bronzes.

Altogether, 16 separate countries achieved at least one medal in the boxing tournament of the European Games, which perfectly encapsulated the phenomenal strength in depth that the continent has to offer in this magnificent sport.

RESULTS WOMEN

MEN

FLYWEIGHT (51KG) Nicola ADAMS Sandra DRABIK Saiana SAGATAEVA Elif COSKUN

GBR POL RUS TUR

LIGHT FLYWEIGHT (49KG) Bator SAGALUEV Brendan IRVINE Muhammed UNLU Dmytro ZAMOTAYEV

RUS IRL TUR UKR

WELTERWEIGHT (69KG) Parviz BAGHIROV Alexander BESPUTIN Josh KELLY Yaroslav SAMOFALOV

AZE RUS GBR UKR

BANTAMWEIGHT (54KG) Elena SAVELEVA Marzia DAVIDE Anna ALIMARDANOVA Azize NIMANI

RUS ITA AZE GER

FLYWEIGHT (52KG) Elvin MAMISHZADA Vincenzo PICARDI Hamza TOUBA Viliam TANKO

AZE ITA GER SVK

MIDDLEWEIGHT (75KG) Michael O’REILLY Xaybula MUSALOV Zoltan HARCSA Maxim KOPTYAKOV

IRL AZE HUN RUS

LIGHTWEIGHT (60KG) Katie TAYLOR Estelle MOSSELY Yana ALEKSEEVNA Tasheena BUGAR

IRL FRA AZE GER

BANTAMWEIGHT (56KG) Bakhtovar NAZIROV Dzmitry ASANAU Tayfur ALIYEV Qais ASHFAQ

RUS BLR AZE GBR

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (81KG) Teymur MAMMADOV Valentino MANFREDONIA Pavel SILYAGIN Oleksandr KHYZHNIAK

AZE ITA RUS UKR

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT (64KG) Anastasiia BELIAKOVA RUS Valentina ALBERTI ITA Sandy RYAN GBR Aneta RYGIELSKA POL

LIGHTWEIGHT (60KG) Albert SELIMOV Sofiane OUMIHA Sean McCOMB Mateusz POLSKI

AZE FRA IRL POL

HEAVYWEIGHT (91KG) Abdulkadir ABDULLAYEV Gevorg MANUKIAN Josip Bepo FILIPI Sadam MAGOMEDOV

AZE UKR CRO RUS

MIDDLEWEIGHT (75KG) Nouchka FONTIJN Anna Laurell NASH Sarah SCHEURICH Lidia FIDURA

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT (64KG) Collazo SOTOMAYOR AZE Vincenzo MANGIACAPRE ITA Kastriot SOPA GER Viktor PETROV UKR

NED SWE GER POL

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT (91+KG) Joe JOYCE GBR Gasan Gimbatov RUS Mahammadrasul Majidov AZE Tony YOKA FRA

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 19

AIBA PRO BOXING PRE-RANKING CYCLE AND CYCLE I

AIBA PRO BOXING

AIBA Pro Boxing showcases world’s top boxing talent in Ranking Phase and Cycle I matches The first two rounds of AIBA Pro Boxing featured events across eight countries and three continents, cementing the international flavour of the competition. Week one action began in Baku, Azerbaijan as the Super heavyweight boxers exhibited their unbelievable athleticism and fearsome power. Romanian Mihai Nistor became the first boxer to ever win an APB bout, as he defeated Germany’s Ali Kiydin on points. Throughout the first week of competition, Olympic medalists, AIBA World Champions, holdres of the World Series of Boxing titles, undefeated professional boxers, savvy veterans and rookie sensations faced each other over six rounds of scintillating action.

On the second day of APB, perhaps the biggest shock in the history of the competition took place in Baku, as Kenya’s Welterweight Rayton Nduku Okwiri knocked out the Austrian boxer with a glittering pro record of 18-1-1, Marcos Nader in round two of their match. This result clearly displayed the unique appeal of APB no matter which style of boxer a fighter has come from, or how many accolades they have achieved, in this format anybody can be beaten. Matches in Almaty, Baku, Bariloche, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Novosibirsk, Rome and Siberia were held in front of thousands of fans in the arenas, and attracted widespread media attention across the globe.

APB Ranking Phase Second Matches The next stage of APB action was held on Friday November 21st until Saturday November 29th, in the same locations as the first Pre-Ranking phase, and at this point, many stars were beginning to form. Lightweight Berik Abdrakhmanov was excellent, French Light heavyweight Mathieu Bauderlique beat number one seed Kennedy St Pierre, and Turkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adem Kilicci was full of momentum at Middleweight. One of the greatest APB stoppages occurred on November 28th in Russia, when London 2012 Olympian Ilyas Suleimenov knocked out AIBA World Championships silver medalist Mohamed Flissi at Flyweight.

Another shock took place in the second week of APB, when two-time AIBA World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist Clemente Russo was beaten in front of his home fans in Italy by Russian Heavyweight European Champion Aleksei Egorov. Meanwhile, Hong Kong hosted an all-Chinese derby at Light flyweight where 2012 AIBA Youth World Boxing Champion Bin LV defeated Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Champion Zhonglin Wu on points. Both fighters were treated as heroes by the adoring audience, and displayed the impeccable respect and sportsmanship that has been a hallmark of APB.

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 23

AIBA PRO BOXING

Matches for Champions The third phase of APB was the beginning of the title stages, as the Matches for Champions series decided which two fighters from each weight category would compete in the Inaugural Title Matches.

Paris, France became the latest APB venue where Bantamweights (56 kg) Alberto Melian and home favourite Khedafi Djelkhir both secured their passage to fight again.

At Light Flyweight, both Chinese stars Bin LV and Zhonglin Wu qualified to meet each other again, while AIBA World Boxing Champion Flyweight Misha Aloian moved on to meet Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elias Emigdio.

Lightweight finalists Hurshid Tojibaev and Berik Abdrakhmanov continued their unbeaten APB journey, while Light welterweight sensation Abdelkader Chadi secured his rematch with hot prospect Artem Zakaryan.

Rayton Nduku Okwiri continued his dream APB run at Welterweight with a win over the previously undefeated London 2012 bronze medalist Andrey Zamkovoy, while Turkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Onur Sipal qualified to meet the African fighter. Another Turkish star Adem Kilicci went 3-0 in APB at Middleweight to delight his home fans, and his main rival in the weight class, European Boxing Champion Artem Chebotarev, also won.

Light heavyweight was full of suspense in Sofia, as Kennedy St Pierre defied the odds to qualify for the title match against Ehsan Rouzbahan, Italian icon Clemente Russo shook off his loss at Heavyweight to rematch Aleksei Egorov for the belt, and in the Super heavyweight division, undefeated APB boxers Erik Pfeifer and Mohammed Arjaoui both continued their success with two marvelous victories.

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 25

AIBA PRO BOXING

Title Matches With boxing media, fans, and fellow fighters all over the world watching, the APB Inaugural Title matches crowned 10 new Champions who each received the beautiful APB belt. Super heavyweight Erik Pfeifer became the very first Champion on 23 January 2015, winning 78:74 across the board against Mohammed Arjaoui in Baku. Two Turkish fighters then achieved title glory on consecutive days, with Middleweight Adem Kilicci igniting Istanbul, and Welterweight Onur Sipal brilliant in Baku. Their victories were celebrated with much gusto in their native country.

On January 30th, four belts were awarded, beginning with rampant Russian Misha Aloian warming up the cold Siberian night by claiming the Flyweight title against Elias Emigdio, while on the same night the intensely loyal fans in Astana were delighted by Berik Abdrakhmanov securing Lightweight gold. A knowledgeable crowd in Sofia were treated to a Light heavyweight clinic by the extraordinary Ehsan Rouzbahani, and though once again defeating Clemente Russo in Italy, Heavyweight Aleksei Egorov was warmly cheered by the European fans in Catania when he lifted the belt after victory.

Prior to his Light welterweight Inaugural Title Bout against Abdelkader Chadi, Artem Zakaryan had not dropped a single round in his previous matches, including a shutout victory over his German opponent. Therefore, it was a major surprise when he lost the first frame in the rematch, and his supportive crowd in Novosibirsk sensed the shock immediately. Showcasing the tenacity and spirit that has seen him break through as one of APBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest stars, Zakaryan responded superbly, and controlled the rest of the contest to ensure his undefeated record remained spotless, and most importantly achieving the honour of becoming a Champion. Although the Light flyweights are the smallest fighters in APB, the all-Chinese title rematch between Bin LV and Zhonglin Wu was a fight of much skill, grit and technique. The fans in Hong Kong were completely split down the middle, and a true classic in China was eventually won by Bin LV who is now 4-0 in the competition. The tenth, and final AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Inaugural Champion was crowned in Paris, and it was the fantastic French fighter Khedafi Djelkhir who clinched the Bantamweight (56 kg) belt over Argentinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alberto Melian. All ten APB Champions not only achieved title gold, but also a qualification quota for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 27

AIBA PRO BOXING

Cycle I Round 1 APB progressed even further after the initial PreRanking Competitions, as the historic first Cycle of AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Matches began on May 30, 2015 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Bringing together the world’s top 90 boxers, the competition also welcomed the legendary boxing nation of Cuba into APB. “Cuba’s arrival in APB represents a further step forward into making this competition one of the most vital and successful sporting systems in the world,” said AIBA President Dr ChingKuo Wu.

Uzbek Lightweight Hurshid Tojibaev kick-started Round 1 with a composed victory over Ireland’s David Oliver Joyce, and his next opponent will be Russia’s Dmitry Polyanskiy who defeated Brazil’s Robson Conceicao.

“Cuba’s arrival in APB represents a further step forward into making this competition one of the most vital and successful sporting systems in the world.” Dr C-K. Wu, AIBA President

The top four ranked fighters in each weight division compete across two APB Rounds, with the eventual winner earning both a Rio 2016 Olympic Games quota, and a scheduled bout against the defending Champion in Cycle I Round 3.

Two-time AIBA Super heavyweight World Champion Magomedrasul Medzhidov produced a perfect performance in Morocco on June 6 when he knocked down home favourite Mohammed Arjaoui en route to a points victory, a result which qualified him through to Round 2 where he will meet four-time Romanian National Champion Mihai Nistor.

On the same night in Italy, Heavyweight supremo Clemente Russo comprehensively outboxed Roman Golovashchenko in Milan, while Anton Pinchuk defeated Chouaib Bouloudintas.

The next evening, exciting Ecuadorian Light flyweight Carlos Quipo upset China’s own Zhonglin Wu in Guiyang, and will now meet current AIBA World Champion Birzhan Zhakypov in Round 2. Also in Guiyang, two-time Asian Games silver medalist Jiawei Zhang lost to Kenya’s Benson Gicharu Njangiru via a second round technical draw, and Bantamweight Alberto Melian outpointed reigning AIBA World Champion Javid Chalabiyev. A midweek brace of Flyweight matches delighted the huge crowd in Mexico City, especially as their star Elias Emigdio beat Fernando Martinez to secure a Round 2 match with Ilyas Suleimenov, who stopped Jasurbek Latipov in round four of their contest.

Cuba’s historic entry into AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) on June 19 in Kemerovo resulted in a debut victory for Welterweight Arisnoidys Despaigne (CUB), as he put on a boxing clinic against Dimitros Tsagrakos (GRE). Two further important matches took place in Russia, beginning with a surprise victory for Gyula Kate over the number one ranked Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Okwiri. Kate’s win sets up with an amazing Round 2 clash with Russia’s Andrey Zamkovoy who beat Eimantas Stanionis.

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 29

APB World Champions Bin LYU (CHN)

Onur SIPAL (TUR)

Misha ALOIAN (RUS)

Ehsan ROUZBAHANI (IRI)

Khedafi DJELKHIR (FRA)

Aleksey EGOROV (RUS)

B. ABDRAKHMANOV (KAZ)

Erik PFEIFER (GER)

LIGHT FLYWEIGHT (49KG)

FLYWEIGHT (52KG)

BANTAMWEIGHT (56KG)

LIGHTWEIGHT (60KG)

Armen ZAKARYAN (RUS) LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT (64KG)

30 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

WELTERWEIGHT (69KG)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (81KG)

HEAVYWEIGHT (91KG)

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT (91+KG)

SEASON V

The regular Season V of World Series of Boxing (WSB) saw some of the best teams vie for the ultimate boxing supremacy – the title of the World Series of Boxing Champion. In Group A, Cuba Domadores entered Season V of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) as defending Champions, and used their past performances to great effect as they won all 16 of their group stages matches to top Group A with 42 points. The Domadores won 63 of their 70 fixtures, and did not lose a single individual match until the fifth week of the competition. A Cuban fighter finished in the top five of every WSB weight class, with Flyweight Yosbany Veitia, Lightweight Lazaro Alvarez and Heavyweight Erislandy Savon all amassing perfect 7-0 records. Russian Boxing Team finished second in the group with 32 points,and they were particularly impressive at home where they won six of their seven matches by a 5-0 scoreline. Bantamweight Vladimir Nikitin finished top of the Bantamweight rankings, while Radzhab Butaev placed second at Welterweight.

Perhaps Russia’s most impressive boxer of the Regular Season was Middleweight Petr Khamukov, who won his first four matches of the season by TKO. Mexico Guerreros achieved an excellent third place in the table, which gave them the last qualification spot for the quarter-final stages. The North American team only lost four of their 14 matches, a record helped massively by standout boxers Joselito Velázquez Altamirano and Raúl Curiel García. Former WSB Finalists Ukraine Otamans failed to qualify from the group stages. Despite a strong home record and excellent individual performances from Uzbek pair Hurshidbek Normatov and Hasanboy Dusmatov, the Otamans could not live up to their performances from prior WSB seasons. Morocco Atlas Lions enjoyed a superb debut campaign in this competition after enjoying six impressive wins, including a duo of victories over Ukraine Otamans.

V N O S A E S B S W

32 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

A week six derby victory over Algeria Desert Hawks was another highlight, and they also produced the top ranked Welterweight Mohammed Rabii who was voted the Boxer of the Season by WSB’s Facebook fans. China Dragons returned to WSB after a two season absence, and adjusted well in their return campaign after a slow start. Three strong home victories made them a force to be reckoned with in Sanya, with exciting Light flyweight He Junjun particularly effective. British Lionhearts also made their return to WSB in Season V, but despite winning their first two home matches at London’s legendary York Hall, they only managed three overall victories to finish seventh in the table. The British team did not have a lot of time to prepare for this season, however, and yet still managed to delight many fans in London with some excellent boxing.

Super heavyweight Joseph Joyce was their standout competitor throughout the Regular Season, as he won six of his seven matches. Algeria Desert Hawks finished bottom of the Group A table with two victories from 14 matches, but they will be delighted to have beaten fierce rivals Morocco Atlas Lions in week 13. Sixth ranked Algerian Lightweight Reda Benbaziz won four matches to considerable acclaim. In Group B, Kazakhstan began Season V determined to reach their third WSB Finals, and they won the first 13 matches of the Regular Season with considerable dominance and destruction. Their home form was particularly impressive, with the team finishing the group stages undefeated in Kazakhstan having dropped just three individual matches in front of their passionate fans. A fighter representing the Kazakh team fighter placed at least fifth in the WSB rankings of six weight classes, with Croatia’s 7-0 Filip Hrgovic placing first at Super heavyweight, while Heavyweight Vasiliy Levit was equally dominant. No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 33

Light flyweight Yoel Finol was a very effective fighter for the team in home matches as he remained undefeated in Venezuela through the season. USA Knockouts started the season with five wins out of six, but faltered in the second half of the Regular Season with five losses in their last six matches. Despite their lack of experience, the American Franchise was one of the most entertaining teams this season, helped by star boxers Carlos Balderas and Francisco Martinez. Puerto Rico Hurricanes won a credible six matches in their debut season, with five of those successes emanating at home in San Juan. An outstanding team spirit gave the squad self belief, and their star boxer was undoubtably 6-1 Flyweight Jeyvier Cintr贸n Ocasio. Rafako Hussars Poland finished seventh in Group B, but were desperately unlucky not to achieve several giant killing results throughout the season. Irish Welterweight Steven Donnelly, plus home stars Tomasz Jablonski and Igor Pawel Jakubowski all produced excellent results for Poland, which will give them added confidence heading into next season. Argentina Condors finished bottom of the table after winning just once this season against Poland in week 11, while their best boxer of the season was Welterweight Alberto Ignacio Palmetta.

34 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

Season IV runners-up Azerbaijan Baku Fires surprisingly began the fifth season of WSB in poor form, as they lost three of their first five matches. The Azeri team improved immensely as the group stages developed, and finished the Regular Season on a four match winning streak. Magomed Gurbanov impressed at Bantamweight, as did Abdulkadir Abdullayev in the Heavyweight division, but their best boxer was undoubtedly 2007 AIBA World Champion Albert Selimov who finished second in the Lightweight rankings. Season II Champions Italia Thunder also began Season V in poor form, but four home victories in a row towards the close of the group stages resulted in a third place finish, and qualification for the quarter-finals. Italy also became the first and only team to defeat Astana Arlans Kazakhstan throughout the campaign in the last match of the Regular Season. Boasting one of the strongest squads in the competition, their two Irish boxers Patrick Barnes and Michael Conlan both achieved Rio 2016 Olympic Games quotas through WSB, as did Italian Light heavyweight Valentino Manfredonia. Caciques Venezuela enjoyed the best placing of all the debuting teams in Season V, as they finished fourth in the table, just one point behind Italy. An amazing home atmosphere in Venezuela saw them win six of their seven matches in South America, including a supreme victory over Azerbaijan Baku Fires in week two.

WSB SEA SON V

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 35

QUARTER FINALS An outstanding away performance in Guba from Mexico Guerreros resulted in a sensational 4-1 victory for the North American Franchise over Season IV runners up Azerbaijan Baku Fires in the first leg of their quarter-final. Light flyweight Joselito Velázquez Altamirano, Bantamweight Sergio Alfredo Chirino Sánchez, Light welterweight Raúl Curiel García and Heavyweight Julio Cesar Castillo Torres all earned valuable wins for Mexico, while Jaba Khositashvili claimed the lone Baku Fires success. After their resounding first leg lead, Mexico began the action on the second night knowing they only needed to win two further matches to qualify for the semi-finals. The Baku Fires began leg two with a much needed Flyweight victory courtesy of Murad Rabadanov, before Mexico’s Lightweight Lindolfo Delgado and Welterweight Héctor Andrés Reyes Anguiano opened up an unassailable lead for the Guerreros. Azerbaijan eventually won the second leg 3-2 after wins for Mikhail Dauhaliavets and Haji Murtuzaliyev, but their efforts proved to be in vain as Mexico sealed the overall triumph 6-4 on aggregate.

Russian Boxing Team then won their quarter-final in even more convincing fashion against Italia Thunder in Moscow to also qualify for the final four of Season V. Five resounding Russian victories in the first leg proved their dominance over a courageous, yet overwhelmed Italian side, as Vadim Kudriakov, Andranik Grigoryan, Vitaliy Dunaytsev, Petr Khamukov and Evgeny Tishchenko all triumphed in the 5-0 whitewash. Russia needed just one additional win in the second leg to claim an aggregate victory, and they achieved their goal in the opening match when Karen Arutiunian defeated Gaurav Bidhuri. Further success for Artur Subkhankulov, Radzhab Butaev and Eduard Yakushev took the scoreline to 9-0, before Italy’s Guido Vianello won the last match of the fixture to avoid a second successive whitewash loss for the Thunder.

S F F O Y A L P B S W

36 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

SEMI-FINALS Astana Arlans Kazakhstan and Cuba Domadores qualified directly through to the semi-finals after they finished top of their respective groups, and they both advanced through to the Season V Finals as well. A 5-0 victory in their semi-final first leg with Mexico Guerreros was enough for Cuba Domadores to qualify for consecutive WSB Finals because Mexico were unable to produce five boxers in the second leg due to injury. Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez, London 2012 Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez, Yasnier Toledo, Arlen Lopez all performed with aplomb in Havana, before the phenomenal Erislandy Savon stopped Julio Cesar Castillo Torres in the second round. Cuba’s dominance continued into the second leg, as they won all four of the official matches while also a claiming a walkover success for Julio Cesar La Cruz.

The star-studded Domadores just kept winning in Havana, with Frank Osvaldo Zaldívar Santisteban, two-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez, gold medal machine Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo and Lenier Eunice Pero all earning victories. Astana Arlans Kazakhstan could not quite match Cuba’s whitewash supremacy, but got very close to that record when they defeated Russian Boxing Team 9-1 on aggregate. Temirtas Zhussupov, 2013 AIBA World Championships bronze medalist Kairat Yeraliyev, Samat Bashenov, Meiirim Nursultanov and the number one ranked Heavyweight Vassiliy Levit all dominated their Russian rivals on night one. Only one further Kazakhstan victory was needed in the second leg, and that was achieved in the very first fight when Olzhas Sattibayev outpointed Karen Arutiunian. Further wins for Zakir Safiullin, 2013 AIBA World Champion Daniyar Yeleussinov followed, while Eduard Yakushev claimed Russia’s lone victory. Super heavyweight star Ivan Dychko finally made his WSB debut in the last match of the night, and opened his account with a TKO win over Ruslan Shamalov. No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 37

Temirtas Zhussupov claimed the first blow for Kazakhstan when he defeated Cuba’s Joahnys Oscar Argilagos Perez, before the Domadores evened up the scoring after a vital win for Robeisy Ramirez over Kairat Yeraliyev.

The most highly anticipated Finals in WSB history took place on June 20 and June 21, when Season III Champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan hosted the defending Champions Cuba Domadores in Astana. With the eyes of the sporting world planted firmly on the hallowed WSB squared circle, the two world class Franchises battled out the historic two-legged Finals with unbelievable skill and courage. Kazakhstan had lost just one of their 16 prior matches in Season V, while Cuba had gone through the entire campaign undefeated after producing superb performances time and time again. The thousands in attendance at the National Tennis Center, and the multitude of WSB fans all around the globe all watched in some surprise when Kazakhstan took a 3-2 lead over Cuba after the first leg had been completed.

38 AIBA BOXING NEWS | No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015

Samat Bashenov then became the first man to beat Cuba’s Yasnier Toledo in Season V, while Meiirim Nursultanov ensured the first leg would definitely end in an Astana Arlans lead after he outpointed Arlen Lopez. Both Kazakhstan’s Vassiliy Levit and Cuba’s Erislandy Savon boasted similar undefeated records heading into their Heavyweight shootout, but it was the Domadore who moved to 17-0 in the competition when he edged a narrow split decision verdict over Levit. Olzhas Sattibayev opened the second leg with yet another Kazakhstan victory, and he took the unbeaten record of Yosbany Veitia in the process.

Lazaro Alvarez pulled a win back for Cuba over Zakir Safiullin, but Kazakhstan’s Aslanbek Shymbergenov then produced one of the most surprising results in WSB history when he outpointed London 2012 Olympic gold medalist Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo on all three scorecards. Cuba’s two-time AIBA World Champion Julio Cesar De La Cruz proceeded to put on a boxing clinic against Nurdaulet Zharmanov, which left the second leg scored at 2-2, and the overall aggregate 5-4 in Kazakhstan’s favour heading into the last official match of the night. If Ivan Dychko lost to Cuba’s Yohandi Toirac a Sudden Death tie-breaker bout would have been required, but the tall Super heavyweight completely dominated the contest, and won every round to secure his own victory, and the Season V Championship for Astana Arlans Kazakhstan. The amazing atmosphere in the arena reached unprecedented levels, and the celebrations continued long into the night throughout the whole of Kazakhstan.

No. 14 | JANUARY - JUNE 2015 | AIBA BOXING NEWS 39

RANKINGS RANK

TEAM

MATCHES

PTS

TOTAL

BOUTS

WINS

LOSSES

TOTAL

WINS

LOSSES

GROUP A 1

Cuba Domadores

Russian Boxing Team

Mexico Guerreros

Ukraine Otamans

Morocco Atlas Lions

China Dragons

British Lionhearts

Algeria Desert Hawks

GROUP B 1

Astana Arlans Kazakhstan

Azerbaijan Baku Fires

Italia Thunder

Caciques Venezuela

USA Knockouts

Puerto Rico Hurricanes

Rafako Hussars Poland

Argentina Condors

LIGHT FLYWEIGHT CATEGORY (49kg) #

BOXER

TEAM

1 BARNES Patrick

COUNTRY

BOUT

IRL

FLYWEIGHT CATEGORY (52kg) PTS

BOXER

TEAM

COUNTRY

1 VEITIA Yosbany

PUR MAR

CUB

2 DUSMATOV Hasanboy

UKR

2 CINTRON OCASIO Jeyvier Jesus

3 VELASQUEZ A.

MEX

3 KHARROUBI

BOUT

PTS

CUB

Joselito

Achraf

LIGHTWEIGHT CATEGORY (60kg) #

BOXER

TEAM

COUNTRY

BANTAMWEIGHT CATEGORY (56kg) BOUT

PTS

BOUT

PTS

1 NIKITIN Vladimir

RUS

2 CONLAN Michael John

IRL

3 GURBANOV

AZE

TEAM

COUNTRY

BOUT

1 RABII Mohammed

BOXER

CUB

1 TOLEDO Yasnier

2 SELIMOV

AZE

2 CURIEL GARICA

MEX

2 BUTAEV

3 ABDURASHIDOV

RUS

3 GADZHIALIYEV

AZE

3 BAGHIROV

PTS

ITA

1 LEVIT Vassily

CUB

31 28

Adlan

Raul

Gaybatulla

MIDDLEWEIGHT CATEGORY (75kg) #

BOXER

TEAM

COUNTRY

BOUT

1 KHAMUKOV Petr

RUS

1 MANFREDONIA Valentino

2 LOPEZ

CUB

2 La CRUZ

3 SEP Hrvoje

Arlen

3 JABLONSKI Tomasz

POL

TEAM

Julio Cesar

COUNTRY

CRO

BOUT

Parviz

BOXER

BOUT

PTS

1 HRGOVIC

CRO

2 JOYCE

GBR

3 MAKHMUDOV

AZE

Filip

Joseph

Arslanbek

TEAM

COUNTRY

BOUT

PTS

RUS

AZE

HEAVYWEIGHT CATEGORY (91kg)

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT CATEGORY (+91kg) #

TEAM

Radzhab

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CATEGORY (81kg) BOXER

COUNTRY

WELTERWEIGHT CATEGORY (69kg)

PTS

1 ALVAREZ Lazaro

Albert

TEAM

Magomed

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT CATEGORY (64kg) BOXER

BOXER

BOUT

PTS

KAZ

2 SAVON

CUB

3 ABDULLAYEV Abdulkadir

AZE

Erislandy

TEAM

COUNTRY

AIBA E

C Meet

Pacific

ing

Games

Pan Am

erican

WSB Se

ason V

I Team

APB Cy

cle 1, R

ontinte

AMBC

hampio

nship

nal Cha

ASBC C

mpions

ontinte

hip

nal Cha

ontinte

Youth C

hip

tenal C

ontinte

mpions

nal Cha

July 18

mpions

Contin

July 14

Elite M

nal Cha

AFBC C

OCBC C

Draw

ound 2

EUBC C

July 6 -

Elite M en & Wom en Elite M en & Wom en

Games

mpions

hip

ommon wealth Games AIBA Ju nior Wo rld Boxin g Cham pionship All-Afr s 2015 ica Gam es AIBA W orld Bo xing Ch ampion ships 2 WSB Se 015 ason V I Boxers Draft APB Cy cle I, Tit le Matc hes

Doha, Qatar

- 18

Papa N ew Guniea

- 25

Toronto

, Canad

July 25

Pro Me

Lausan n Switze e, rland

Elite M en & Wom en Elite M en & Wom en Elite M en & Wom en Elite M en & Wom en Elite M en & Wom en Youth M

Elite M en & Wom en Elite M en & Wom en Elite M

Elite M

July August August August

Sofia, Bulgari a

17 - 22

Vargas, Venezu ela Casabla nca Morocc , o Bangko k, Thailan d

18 - 23

August Septem 26 ber 5 August Septem 29 ber 1 Septem

ber 7 -

Septem

ber 5 -

Septem

ber 6 -

Octobe

r 8 - 17

Octobe

r 15

Pro Me

7 - 15

Novem b & Dece er mber

Canberr a Austra , lia Apia, S

amoa St Pete rsburg , Russia Brazza ville, Congo Doha, Doha, -

Qatar