Ukraine’s day in the men’s semi-finals at the Strandja Memorial Tournament
25 February 2018The winners of today’s men bouts in the sixth competition day are advanced to the finals of the 69th edition of the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia. The Ukrainian boxers did well in the sixth competition day in Sofia their No.1 Dmytro Zamotaev, Ivan Dancha and Valeriy Kharlamov won their contests in the semi-finals.
Altogether 143 men and 93 women boxers from 30 countries are taking part in the 69th edition of the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia. Russia, Kazakhstan, United States of America, China, England, Ukraine, India, Mongolia, Brazil, Italy, Canada, Romania, Morocco, and host Bulgaria are all attending among the top boxing nations in Sofia.
Ukraine’s AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dmytro Zamotaev proved amazing performance against Azerbaijan’s Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympian Masud Yusifzada and won their flyweight (52kg) contest by split decision. The Ukrainian boxer will be fighting for the title with India’s National Trials winner Gaurav Solanki who eliminated Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Champion Azat Usenaliev and Spain’s No.1 Gabriel Escobar.
Bulgaria’s Boyan Asenov is younger brother of their two-time EUBC European Champion Daniel Asenov therefore his genetics is perfect for our beloved sport. The 19-year-old Bulgarian bantamweight (56kg) boxer triumphed over Kazakhstan’s experienced Nurbol Kalzhanov in the semi-final which means Asenov will now face with and Russia’s promising star Shakhriyor Akhmedov who eliminated India’s Mohammed Hussamuddin in Sofia.
Ivan Dancha was No.2 and No.3 in the Ukrainian rankings in the recent years but following his hard work he was able to advance to the final of the light welterweight (64kg) in the Strandja Memorial Tournament. The 24-year-old Ukrainian defeated United States’ AIBA Youth World Champion Delante Johnson in their hectic semi-final and will be boxing with Kazakhstan’s Sabyrzhan Bekbergenov who was too strong for China’s Wang Gang.
Russia’s FISU University World Champion Khariton Agrba claimed silver in the last edition of their National Championships but his wonderful performance in the semi-final against Kazakhstan’s Kanagat Maralov was one of the best results for the Russian during his career. The Georgian-descent Russian welterweight (69kg) boxer will be meeting for the gold with Iran’s top future hope ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Sajad Kazemzadeh who eliminated Bulgaria’s Nikolay Koev by large margin of difference.
Ukraine’s Valeriy Kharlamov competed in the big competitions in the recent years but his change to the light heavyweight (81kg) was a big success. The 23-year-old Ukrainian talent did enough to eliminate Kazakhstan’s teenager Mikhail Kokhanchik in the semi-final of the Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia. Kharlamov will needs only one further step to be celebrated his title against Russia’s new hope Ilyas Mutaev who was too quick to beat Spain’s developed Alejandro Camacho in the second semi-final.
Bulgaria’s experienced WSB boxer Radoslav Pantaleev involved to the national team in 2010 but he was able to do a breakthrough only two and half years ago. Pantaleev is not enough tall at the heavyweight (91kg) which is his new category but the 24-year-old Bulgarian equalized his physical disadvantage with amazing stamina. Pantaleev was too strong for Kazakhstan’s Abzal Kuttybekov and can prepares to his final step against Iran’s Salar Gholami in the Strandja Memorial Tournament.
Bulgaria’s EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships bronze medallist Petar Belberov is one the main favourites of the super heavyweight (+91kg) who controlled his semi-final against India’s Satish Kumar. Belberov’s final opponent will be Armenia’s EUBC European Confederation Youth Boxing Championships silver medallist Gurgen Hovhannisyan who has been preparing to the EUBC European Confederation U22 Boxing Championships.
