Abdullayev and the Asenov brothers were fantastic in the Strandja Memorial Tournament on Day3
17 February 2019One of the longest programs in the history of the Strandja Memorial Tournament was held in the third competition day of the 70th anniversary edition in Sofia today. Altogether 72 bouts were taking place in Sofia in three sessions and the winners advanced to the quarter-finals. Azerbaijan’s 19-year-old Mahammad Abdullayev eliminated Romania’s star Mihai Nistor on Day3 when the Bulgarian Asenov brothers were also fantastic on home soil.
Finally 37 nations sent their boxers to the new Strandja Memorial Tournament and next to the quantity the quality is world class in Sofia. Altogether 103 women and 193 men boxers are fighting for the medals in the Strandja Memorial Tournament. The total number of 296 boxer means the current Strandja Memorial Tournament is a small World Championships in Sofia once again.
Bout of the day
Azerbaijan’s AIBA Junior World Champion and EUBC European Youth Champion Mahammad Abdullayev joined to the elite age group in 2018 and he is the Caucasian nation’s top future hope at the super heavyweight (+91kg). The 19-year-old Azeri talent had to face with Romania’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver medallist and Rio 2016 Olympian Mihai Nistor in the Strandja Memorial Tournament. Azerbaijan’s new sensation tried to follow Nistor’s strong rhythm and he had enough power to keep that level until the end of the final bell. The final verdict was split decision in the favour of the young Azeri talent who eliminated a top rival in Sofia.
Surprises of the day
North Macedonia’s Jasim Ljama attended in a few international tournaments in the recent years but he was not the favourite against India’s ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Ankush Dahiya. The North Macedonian boxer caught his Indian rival quickly and the referee stopped their contest in the first round which was one of the main sensations of the third competition day.
Bulgaria’s Blagoy Naydenov eliminated Ukraine’s EUBC European U22 Champion Stepan Hrekul in the last preliminary round but he suffered a surprise loss to Sweden’s King of the Ring Tournament winner Liridon Nuha in their light heavyweight (81kg) bout. Another Bulgarian boxer their super heavyweight (+91kg) No.1 Petar Belberov delivered a positive surprise for the host country when he eliminated Ukraine’s defending EUBC European Champion Viktor Vykhryst on Day3.
The round-up
Bulgaria’s two-time EUBC European Champion Daniel Asenov was hungry to box in the front of the home crowd at the Strandja Memorial Tournament and the local flyweight (52kg) star was too strong for Morocco’s Yassine Bendadda in Sofia. His younger brother Boyan Asenov is a promising talent who shocked Kazakhstan’s Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Champion Kairat Yeraliyev and eliminated his Central Asian rival winning the bantamweight (56kg) bout by split decision.
The flyweight (52kg) is seriously strong in the Strandja Memorial Tournament where following Daniel Asenov’s excellent return France’s EUBC European Youth Champion Billal Bennama impressed against United States’ Michael Angeletti. Ukraine’s Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dmytro Zamotayev was also confident in the third competition day when he eliminated Serbia’s Dusan Janjic.
Switzerland’s FISU University World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Uke Smajli is aiming to attend in his second European Games this year and during his road to Minsk he eliminated Bulgaria’s Plamen Petkov by split decision in Sofia. In the same light heavyweight (81kg) two-time Olympian Mikhail Dauhaliavets of Belarus performed strongly against Uzbekistan’s National Champion Khurshid Abdullaev and advanced to the next stage in the Strandja Memorial Tournament.
Ukraine’s National Champion at the heavyweight (91kg) Serhii Horskov won the gold medal at the Bocskai Memorial Tournament and after a few days of relaxation he attends in Sofia. The young Ukrainian was confident in his opening bout against Serbia’s Darko Stankovic and advanced to the quarter-finals. Another heavyweight (91kg) favourite Russia’s Baku 2015 European Games bronze medallist Sadam Magomedov was too strong for Bulgaria’s Ivan Mechkov and also secured his place in the Top8.
