Tajikistan’s Akmal Ubaidov is the top surprise at the ASBC Asian Boxing Championships

Seven countries shared the final spots at the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in the city of Chiang Mai, North Thailand today.

Philippines’ 19-year-old Bryan Jay Baricuatro shocked his Uzbek opponent, Shodiyorjon Melikuziev in the first minute of their semi-final with a powerful punch but the Central Asian turned back their contest with punctual shots. Melikuziev became the first male finalist of the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai winning a superb battle over the Filipino teenager.

Uzbekistan’s flyweight (51kg) star Asilbek Jalilov eliminated his main rival, Kazakhstan’s World Champion Saken Bibossynov in the quarter-finals and he met Sri Lanka’s historic medallist Umayanga Mihiran in the last four. The Asian U22 Champion Uzbek defeated the Sri Lankan one time during his career and he performed well enough to take the lead on the scorecards. Mihiran is Sri Lanka’s best future hope from the previous two decades but Jalilov won the battle of the 2003 born boxers.

Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Muzafarov used his uppercuts to destroy Ukraine’s Yelmir Nabiyev’s defence in the first round during the second bantamweight (54kg) semi-final. The 22-year-old Uzbek maintained the best fighting distance in the first round and he performed better in the second against the Ukrainian. Muzafarov was confident in this semi-final and he bowed out Nabiyev out of his way winning the bout unanimously.

Tajikistan’s Akmal Ubaidov amazed in all of the previous stages of the competition and he eliminated Ukraine’s Olympian Aider Abduraimov at the lightweight (60kg) therefore he has the chance to win the title against Japan’s Sota Nakayama.

Philippines’ Mark Ashley Fajardo knocked down Uzbekistan’s Adkhamjon Mukhiddinov in the first round but his opponent came back stronger after that moment and he landed more clear shots. The 22-year-old Uzbek was on the floor again in the second round but his number of shots were enough to win this spectacular semi-final in Chiang Mai.