Ergashev and Orozbekov are the new teenage heroes in Bishkek

The 46^th edition of the Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament turned to its medal phase, the winners of the third competition day advanced to the semi-finals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Altogether 175 elite male boxers are participating in Kyrgyzstan’s capital for the 13 available gold medals of the competition.

The event was named after Mr. Duisenkul Shopokov, the Kyrgyz hero of the Soviet Union who died at the Battle of Moscow in December 1941.

Kyrgyzstan’s Asian Youth silver medallist Bekzat Ergashev is a newcomer in the elite events but the 19-year-old talent dominated his contest against Uzbekistan’s Kamronbek Manapov at the flyweight (51kg).

Another Kyrgyz, the 26-year-old Nurzhigit Dyushebayev, the World Championships quarter-finalist, who moved up to the bantamweight (54kg) had a clear success over Nurseit Ashirmamatov on Day3.

Uzbekistan’s Sanjar Vakhobov and his teammate, Mirzabek Mirzakhalilov both shined in the quarter-finals of the featherweight (57kg) today. The top contest in this weight class was held between Russia’s Ruslan Belousov and Uzbekistan’s Asian Youth Champion Samandar Kholmurodov which was close but the first won their meeting.

The welterweight (67kg) had also excellent quarter-finals in Bishkek, among the locals, Ikhtiyar Nishonov, the Asian Youth Champion Almaz Orozbekov and the veteran Zhakshylyk Talaybekov all advanced to the medal bouts.

Daniel Abdurakhmanov and Islombek Turgunov both were members of the youth national teams in Kyrgyzstan and only the third round decided their middleweight (75kg) meeting. Abdurakhmanov won this contest due to his excellent finish and he is now a guaranteed medallist in the Shopokov Memorial.

Uzbekistan’s Mukhadumar Bakhramov is not an experienced boxer in the international stage yet but he exceeded all of the expectations in the quarter-finals of the cruiserweight (86kg) in Bishkek. The Uzbek not only defeated Russia’s Great Silk Way Tournament winner Khasmagomed Dzhavatkhanov but he demonstrated his power.