Maietta, Usenaliev and Azizova were the bests at the World Cup of Petroleum Countries Tournament on Day1

The World Cup of Petroleum Countries Tournament for the memory of Farman Salmanov is always one of the events which closes the year in the European boxing map. Italy’s Francesco Maietta won the tightest bout of the first competition day but Kyrgyzstan’s Azat Usenaliev and Russia’s Elmira Azizova also amazed in the opening session.

The previous editions of the World Cup of the Petroleum Countries Tournament were held in Nizhnevartovsk, in Khanty-Mansiysk and in Surgut and the competition returned to Beloyarskiy after two years of break.

The World Cup of Petroleum Countries Tournament is holding in five female and eight male weight classes and the total number of athletes is 127 in Beloyarskiy. Besides to the European boxing powers, Afghanistan, Angola, Ecuador, Venezuela, Tunisia, Morocco, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Thailand are also sent boxers to the four-day long competition which is holding in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous region.

Bout of the day

Italy’s Francesco Maietta robbed into the world of boxing when he claimed bronze at the Rotterdam 2013 EUBC European Youth Boxing Championships. He repeated that bronze medal at the Samokov 2015 EUBC European Elite Boxing Championships at the age of 19. The Italian boxer moved down to the new bantamweight (57kg) which could be his best category in the upcoming top events. Maietta had a strong rival as first, Tunisia’s Bilel Boughamni who reached also strong international results. The 23-year-old Italian found his best combinations in time and eliminated his North African rival winning the bout by split decision.

Surprise of the day

Thailand’s Thitisan Panmod was AIBA Youth World Champion in 2018 and won the title of the Gee Bee Tournament this March which was his first elite international tournament. The 19-year-old Thai boxer had operations this year after that success, recovered fully but their delegation arrived late to the venue of the World Cup of Petroleum Countries Tournament. Panmod relaxed only three hours following their long trips to Russia and he was not enough shape against Uzbekistan’s Doston Khodjayev on Day1.

The Round-Up

Belarus’ Yana Burym is a well-experienced female boxer at the flyweight (51kg) who claimed medals in big events as well. The 32-year-old Belarusian was too smart for Russia’s Mikhaela Pleshu who lives and trains in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous region. Among the local boxers in this female category Anna Aedma succeeded following her Armenian rival’s Kristine Sargsyan’s ringside abandoned their fight in the second round.

Russia’s Daria Abramova was EUBC European Women’s Champion in 2016 but since then she moved down to the featherweight (57kg). The 29-year-old Russian opened her campaign with a clear success eliminating her teammate Ekaterina Sycheva unanimously. Another experienced Russian, 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships competitor Natalia Samokhina was too strong for Makhsati Hamzayeva. In the third key contest of the weight class Tajikistan’s Mizhgona Samadova bowed out Russia’s Malika Shakhidova in a hectic fight on Day1.

Elmira Azizova reached some excellent results at the women’s welterweight (69kg) including her gold medal at the Strandja Memorial Tournament but the Russian boxer decided to move up to the middleweight (75kg). Azizova, who is a local boxer in the Khanty-Mansiysk region, controlled all of the three rounds against Russia’s Anna Anfinogenova. In the same category Belarus’ Alina Veber succeeded against Russia’s Mariya Urakova who claimed gold at the light heavyweight (81kg) in the 2018 EUBC European Women’s Boxing Championships.

Kyrgyzstan’s best male boxer Azat Usenaliev was gold medallist at the Amman 2013 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships and he won four international tournaments only this year. The 28-year-old Kyrgyz is one of the best flyweight (52kg) boxers in the whole world who amazed once again. Usenaliev had excellent footwork in the first round against Azerbaijan’s Yadgar Aliyev who demoralized following the Kyrgyz punches. Usenaliev dominated all rounds against his Azeri rival and marched to the next stage winning the bout by large margin of differences.

Russia’s Grigoriy Lizunenko is a 27-year-old experienced boxer who had a strong opponent as first, Venezuela’s Christian Palacio who won contests also in the World Series of Boxing. The Russian lightweight (63kg) hope was quicker than his taller opponent and landed enough shots to win their tough fight. Among the favourites of the weight class Tajikistan’s ASBC Asian Champion Bakhodur Usmonov, Uzbekistan’s former AIBA Junior World Champion Aliyor Noraliyev and Russia’s Guseyn Magomedov also advanced to the next round of boxing.