Khamukov and Khalokov both won superb quarter-finals in the Governor Cup
10 May 2019Altogether 32 quarter-final contests were held in the third competition day of the Governor Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia. The winners advanced to the semi-finals and all of them are guaranteed medallists in the Governor Cup. Russia’s EUBC European Champion Petr Khamukov had a difficult battle but he survived that contest after Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov won his quick bout less than one minute of 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 European nations, Brazil, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also sent boxers to the Governor Cup.
Bout of the day
Russia’s Petr Khamukov attended in his first EUBC continental event still in 2009 and few years after his first youth successes he could join to the elite team. He achieved gold medal at the 2015 EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships in Samokov four years ago and attended all levels of boxing. Khamukov returned to the middleweight (75kg) which is better for his height and physical skills and following his success over Sweden’s Erik Mendoza, he had to do his very best against Uzbekistan’s Jasur Sabirov. Khamukov was more experienced than his Uzbek rival but Sabirov exceeded the previous expectations and responded the Russian attacks. The host nation’s pride gave in everything in the third round and his stamina meant that Khamukov could continue in the semi-finals.
Surprises of the day
Russia’s Magomed Tinovasov attended a few international tournaments in the recent years but his opponent at the lightweight (60kg) was Uzbekistan’s Otabek Kholmatov who claimed bronze medal at the St. Petersburg 2016 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. The Uzbek moved up two categories since his last appearance in St. Petersburg and suffered a surprise loss to Tinovasov on Day3.
Russia’s Aleksey Semykin was gold medallist in the EUBC U22 European Boxing Championships in Vladikavkaz but he was not the favourite against Azerbaijan’s Kamran Shakhsuvarly who claimed bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and at the Hamburg 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The six-year younger talented Russian boxer knew his opponent’s tactical weapons and his strongly built strategy was better than Shakhsuvarly’s one today.
The Round-Up
Azerbaijan’s Masud Yusifzada was Youth Olympian boxer in 2014 and he had to develop his skills to beat his main national rival Elvin Mamishzada at home. The 23-year-old Azeri flyweight (52kg) boxer continued his winning series also in the international stage and eliminated Russia’s Bair Batlayev by unanimous decision. Another young hope Russia’s EUBC European U22 Champion Sergei Iarulin was too smart for Brazil’s Carlos Rocha and advanced to the semi-finals of the bantamweight (56kg).
Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalokov won the big three last year: the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games, the Budapest AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and the Bangkok ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships. The 19-year-old Uzbek bantamweight (56kg) boxer had a quick battle against Russia’s Maksim Chernyshev in the quarter-finals. The ringside doctor confirmed his RSCI success after 58 seconds of fight and Khalokov eliminated the top Russian rapidly.
Armenia’s defending EUBC European Champion at the light welterweight (64kg) Hovhannes Bachkov is in superb shape this year and controlled his fight against a dangerous rival, Brazil’s Wanderson De Oliveira. The young favourite of this weight class Youth Olympic Games winner Ilia Popov of Russia dominated the quarter-final against his teammate Dmitriy Zubko and marched into the last four.
