ALMATY –The 17th Amateur World Boxing Championship began in Almaty Oct. 14 at Baluan Sholak Palace of Culture and Sports with the record-breaking participation of 576 boxers from 116 countries.
A grand opening ceremony of the 17th World Boxing Championship took place in Almaty at Baluan Sholak Palace of Culture and Sports gathering the record-breaking participation of almost 600 boxers from 116 countries.
The event is also unique in that it is the first time the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) new rule eliminating protective headgear is being implemented.
Kazakhstan boxers had their first bouts on Oct. 18 in accordance with AIBA regulations that allow the host country to skip the first round. All of the Kazakhstan boxers won their first bouts.
Kazakhstan boxer Ilyas Suleimenov beat Australian Andrew Moloney in the category up to 52 kg. He will face Azat Usenaliyev of Kyrgyzstan in the next round.
In the 64 kg category, Kazakhstan boxer Merey Akshalov managed to get past Josh Taylor of Scotland.
“The opponent was left-handed, so [he] was inconvenient for me,” Akshalov said after the match. “The Scot had a slight advantage as he had one warm up bout before me and moved well in the ring. [But] in the second round, I achieved the needed result. This is only the beginning, I am sure we will have more wins ahead.”
2013 Asian Champion in the category up to 91 kg Anton Pinchuk, dominated Hungarian Imre Szello in three rounds. Pinchuk lost in the subsequent match against Rustam Tulaganov of Uzbekistan in the next 1/8 round.
On Oct. 19, Birzhan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan beat Belik Galanov of Russia to advance to the next round in the 49 kg category and will next fight Khazanbo Dusmatov from Uzbekistan.
And 2013 Asian Champion in the 75 kg category Zhanibek Alimkhanuly of Kazakhstan beat Soltan Migitinov of Azerbaijan. He will face Mexican Juan Mercado in the next round.
Almaty was awarded in 2011 the right to host this year’s event by the International Boxing Association.
The championship will conclude on Oct. 26.
