ASTANA – The Astana Arlans beat the Russian Boxing Team 5:0 and 4:1 (9:1 on aggregate) in two encounters at the Daulet National Tennis Centre in Astana on May 23–24 in the semi-final of the fifth World Series of Boxing (WSB) season to advance to their third WSB final, which will see them square off against defending champions the Domadores from Cuba.
In the first round, Kazakh Temirtas Zhussupov beat Russian Vadim Kudriakov in the flyweight category (52 kilogrammes). Lightweight Kairat Yeraliyev (60 kilogrammes) defeated Andranik Grigoryan to make the score 2:0. In the welterweight (69 kilogrammes) category, Samat Bashenov dominated Avak Uzlian; in the next bout, light-heavyweight (81 kilogrammes) Meiirim Nursultanov stopped Sukhrob Sidikov. Finally, heavyweight (91+ kilogrammes) Vasiliy Levit’s opponent Vitaly Kudukhov was disqualified in the fourth round for foul play and Levit was announced the winner.
In the second segment of the semi-final, the Russian team made a tremendous effort to come back and equalise the situation; however, their efforts were futile, as the Kazakh team had won the first bout and had already qualified for the final. The Russian team had only a show to fight for, and fight they did.
Flyweight Olzhas Sattibayev defeated Karen Arutiunian, and lightweight Zakir Safiullin scored another victory for the Kazakh team by beating Artur Subkhankulov. Welterweight 2013 Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Champion Daniyar Yeleussinov beat Iagub Nuriev by a split decision. Russia finally won a bout in the light-heavyweight category when Eduard Yakushev eliminated Nurdaulet Zharmanov on points, but super heavyweight Ivan Dychko of Arlans brought the final victory to his team by beating Ruslan Shamalov.
Arlans have had a nearly perfect season, winning 15 of their 16 bouts. The team will be looking forward to winning its second WSB title in the final.
