Virtuoso Sabyrkhan is in the Top8 in Budva

The best technical boxer of the entire IBA Youth World Boxing Championships, Kazakhstan’s Torekhan Sabyrkhan used his virtuoso style in Budva today.

Russia’s Diana Sikstus and Kazakhstan’s Ayazhan Sydyk both won several international competitions during their career but they had to meet each other already in the Round of 16 at the women’s bantamweight (54kg). After two tight rounds, the Russian made a great finish in the third which was the decisive between them today.

France’s Maloe Teresi, the European Youth Champion, has excellent technical skills and she was able to follow her strategy successfully against Greece’s Maria Vergetaki. The French bantamweight (54kg) boxer will meet for the medal Colombia’s Evelin Mosquera who bowed out her Armenian rival.

Azerbaijan’s Zidan Humbatov is one of the top names at the men’s flyweight (51kg) and he had the right tactics against Poland’s Mateusz Szczoczarz to join the quarter-finals. He will now meet Tajikistan’s CIS Youth Games winner Meroj Sufijonov who knocked out Lithuania’s Klaidas Skulcas within one minute. 

Afghanistan’s Emal Hamdam was 15cm taller than his Africa opponent, Ghana’s Mathias Ashitey and he used it up well in most of the exchanges. Hamdam had to give in everything from his counter-attacking range to beat the boxer from Ghana but his tight success means that he will be able to box with Iran’s strong Mehdi Kazemi.

Kazakhstan’s four-time Asian Champion Torekhan Sabyrkhan walked over to the last 16 at the welterweight (67kg) but finally he made his debut on Day5. The 18-year-old Kazakh used his virtuoso style of boxing against Afghanistan’s Samir Hamdam and he was untouchable for his German-based opponent.

Albania’s Besian Karaj exceeded his expectations in this competition and he is now a quarter-finalist following his success over IBA neutral’s Marcus Barrett. Cuba’s David Espinosa and Romania’s Arun Tudoroiu were also among the winners at the welterweight (67kg) today.