Asanau proved in the Governor Cup he could be gold medallist also in the upcoming European Games
13 May 2019The exciting ten final contests were held in the fifth competition day of the Governor Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia. Belarus’ best boxer Dzmitry Asanau defeated Cuba’s three-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez in a superb final before Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov won the gold at the light welterweight (64kg) in another amazing fight.
St. Petersburg Boxing Federation is hosting the competition in the historical city where the first edition of the Governor Cup was held still in the era of the Soviet Union. Next to the top European nations, Brazil, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also sent boxers to the Governor Cup.
Bout of the day
Belarus will be hosting the upcoming European Games and their No.1 Dzmitry Asanau proved he is in world class form. Following his junior and youth titles he claimed bronze medal at the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The Rio 2016 Olympian and EUBC European U22 Champion Dzmitry Asanau dominated his semi-final against a strong Russian opponent before his finals. The Belarusian No.1 met for the title of the Governor Cup with Cuba’s three-time AIBA World Champion Lazaro Alvarez in the final of the lightweight (60kg). Asanau defeated Cuba’s Andy Cruz in Doha four years ago and he was able to beat another star rival from the Caribbean boxing power. The 23-year-old Belarusian tried to keep the best fighting distance and operated with counter-attacks which style was uncomfortable for Alvarez. Asanau has done another remarkable performance and eliminated his Cuban rival winning the final by split decision.
Surprise of the day
Armenia’s Rio 2016 Olympian Artur Hovhannisyan claimed silver medal in the Cologne Boxing World Cup in Germany last month and impressed in the recent EUBC events as well. The Armenian light flyweight (49kg) boxer advanced to the final of the Governor Cup defeating all of his rivals by large margin of differences. The Armenian boxer was the favourite against Cuba’s National Champion and WSB Team Champion Damian Arce but suffered a narrow loss in the final of the Governor Cup.
The Round-Up
Azerbaijan’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympian Masud Yusifzada is one of the most promising flyweight (52kg) boxers in the whole world who defeated AIBA World Champion Elvin Mamishzada in the final of their National Championships this year. Yusifzada is aiming for gold in the upcoming European Games and he has done successfully his first mission, getting the title of the Governor Cup after beating Mongolia’s Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu who is also in top shape in 2019.
Uzbekistan’s Youth Olympic Games winner, AIBA Youth World Champion and ASBC Asian Youth Champion Abdumalik Khalokov eliminated Russia’s experienced Nazir Balayev in the semi-final of the bantamweight (56kg) and impressed also in the finals of the Governor Cup. The 19-year-old Uzbek dominated his fight against Russia’s Aleksey Moskvin before his teammate AIBA World Boxing Championships silver medallist Ikboljon Kholdarov won the gold medal at the welterweight (69kg).
Armenia’s defending EUBC European Champion Hovhannes Bachkov is now 27 who returned to the world of boxing in amazing shape and won his next tournament title. The experienced Armenian used up all of his previous tactical knowledge to beat Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games winner and EUBC European Youth Champion Ilia Popov of Russia who eliminated Asian Games winner and ASBC Asian Champion Mongolia’s Erdenebat Tsendbaatar in the semi-finals. The Armenian light welterweight (64kg) boxer was better in all aspects of boxing but Popov is an amazing teenage talent in our sport.
Russia’s Samokov 2015 EUBC European Champion Petr Khamukov survived his quarter-final against a tough opponent Uzbekistan’s Jasur Sabirov but after that he impressed against Brazil’s Hebert Carvalho Sousa in the semi-finals and also in the title bout. The Russian middleweight (75kg) boxer was enough experienced to beat his seven-year younger final opponent EUBC European U22 Champion Aleksey Semykin in St. Petersburg.
Azerbaijan’s new hero, the EUBC European Youth Champion Mahammad Abdullayev is only 20 but he is one of the most promising super heavyweight (+91kg) boxers who bowed out another super talented young hope Armenia’s hero Gurgen Hovhannisyan in the semi-final of the Governor Cup. Abdullayev defeated Moldova’s veteran Alexei Zavatin in the final of the event increasing Azerbaijan’s gold medals up to two in St. Petersburg.
