Azat Makhmetov and Denys Latypov trains with Tony Davis to qualify for the Olympics

Bahrain will send its two top boxers to the upcoming 2^nd World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from May 24.

Bahrain made a historic step in the last edition of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the country qualified one boxer, Denys Latypov at the super heavyweight. The ex-Russian not only earned a quota for the Games but he won a historic preliminary bout in Tokyo.

Azat Makhmetov, the ex-Kazakh National Champion has plenty of international experience but he has never competed in any of the Olympics yet. The 33-year-old flyweight (51kg) boxer defeated several stars in the previous years since he switched to Bahrain and the support of the national head coach Mr. Tony Davis, he had personal preparation to the upcoming 2^nd World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event.

Denys Latypov, Bahrain’s first ever Olympian boxer, returned to the national team after a short break in 2023 to compete in the Asian Games in Hangzhou. The experienced super heavyweight (+92kg) boxer was one-step away to qualify for the Olympics in Busto Arsizio but he has a chance to finish this job in Bangkok.

“Denys and Azat have been training hard as we gear up for this important qualification tournament. We have been working diligently in the gym, competed in a couple of recent events outside Bahrain, and also conducted a camp in Kazakhstan.

It is up for the boxers now to produce in the 2^nd World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event. They are well aware that it is their final opportunity to make it to the Paris Olympics. They are hungry for it and both are greatly looking forward to the opportunity to qualify.

Both of them came close in the previous qualification events and it will be a dream come true to be able to go for Paris. It will be a tremendous honour to be able to bring back Bahrain at the Olympic Games. It is going to be a tough competition in Bangkok,” said Tony Davis, the head coach of their national team.