Brilliant Birzhan Zhakypov earns Rio 2016 qualification after defeating Carlos Quipo
10 July 2015
AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Cycle I Round 2 exploded into life on Friday night as Light Flyweight (49 kg) sensation Birzhan Zhakypov (KAZ) superbly outpointed Carlos Quipo (ECU) in front of an appreciative crowd in Guiyang, China.
Zhakypov’s exceptional victory has earned him a future APB title match against Light Flyweight Champion Bin LV (CHI), as well as a qualification quota for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
With so much reward on the line for the winner, both fighters appeared resolute and composed when they made their way to the ring in the high tech arena.
The match began with the Kazakh 2013 AIBA World Champion in complete control, as he dominated the centre of the ring with great confidence and swagger.
Solid punches to both the head and body of Quipo forced the Ecuadorian onto the backfoot throughout the first two rounds, despite plenty of lateral movement from the South American supremo.
Quipo rallied in the third frame however, and his low stance started to pay dividends when he began to exploit the slight openings in Zhakypov’s defence.
The power advantage belonged to Quipo, but the pawing jab and footwork of the Kazakh often enabled him to perform better when both men attacked at the same time.
Zhakypov’s height advantage was also telling, with his long reach and fast hands another deterrent to Quipo, who battled manfully throughout the middle stages of the bout to move his opponent back against the ropes.
Body shots proved to be Quipo’s main weapon as the rounds progressed, and he dug in heavy left and right hooks to the midsection of Zhakypov with consummate ease.
Despite suffering the stamina-sapping shots, Zhakypov remained calm and switched back to his relaxed style of boxing which once again frustrated Quipo.
The crowd in Guiyan increased in noise with every shot thrown, as both competitors finished the bout with great intensity despite the fast pace set across all eight rounds.
Although Quipo won the final frame as a result of his superior work rate, his late success was not enough to change the overall outcome of the bout, and it was Zhakypov who was crowned the winner 78:74 and 77:75, with the third judge scoring the fight a draw.
A second Light Flyweight battle took place on the undercard, where Leandro Blanc (ARG) beat Ariunbold Ganselem (MGL) for the second time in APB.
Ganselem performed well at the start and end of their contest, but Blanc reigned supreme in the middle rounds, which was enough to secure a 77:75 victory across the board.
Match Results:
- Leandro BLANC (ARG) W.P. (77:75/77:75/77:75) vs Ariunbold GANSELEM (MGL)
- Carlos QUIPO (ECU) vs Birzhan Zhakypov (KAZ) W.P. (75:77/76:77/74:78)
