Malunoc continues Philippines’ bright traditions at the minimumweight

Philippines’ Robert Malunoc Jr. impressed in the fifth session of the ASBC Asian U22 & Youth Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan today.

Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Timor Leste, Chinese Taipei, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the participating 25 countries in Astana.

Uzbekistan’s Sayfiddin Sabirov surprised India’s Asian Junior Champion Brijesh Tamta in the first round with his shots during his movements and he found the wholes on the defence of his opponents. The Indian tried to reduce the fighting distance with clinching and holding and his uncomfortable style was enough to win this close contest in Astana which was a surprise in the first session.

Robert Malunoc Jr. was member of their national team already at the 2019 ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships in Kuwait City. Five years after the event, the Filipino talent is one their best youth boxers currently and he had the footwork to keep the control against Iran’s Mahdi Shaban in the second bout of the day.

Mongolia’s 18-year-old southpaw, Dulguunsaikhan Kharkhuu had longer hands than Iran’s Amirreza Soltani and he outpointed his smaller rival in the first round. The Iranian was aggressive in the second round of their bantamweight (54kg) contest and he could turn back this quarter-final with permanent fighting.

Kazakhstan’s three-time Asian Champion Torekhan Sabyrkhan is their star in the youth national team who follows the country’s strong traditions at the welterweight (67kg). He had a taller, neighbouring rival, Kyrgyzstan’s Ramzan Kadyrov and both had the same technician style of boxing with great defensive skills. The Lithuanian referee stopped the bout in the third round but both boxers proved their excellent talents in this chess game.