Kazakhstan's twice AIBA World Champion and reigning Asian Games winner, 28-year-old Serik Sapiyev, will soon reach Baku with the ambition of getting a third title, the seventh for the Central Asian nation.
Sapiyev won in his first World title in 2005 in Mianyang and defended his crown in Chicago two years after. In the last edition, he was defeated by Russia's Andrey Zamkovoy in the semi-finals and still secured a bronze medal at the Mediolanum Forum, in Milan.
Following this performance, Sapiyev was also eliminated by his compatriot Rustam Svayev at the Kazakh National Championships a year and a half ago. The Kazakh virtuoso has then worked very hard to find his place back in the national squad and even won the welterweight class at the Asian Games in Guangzhou. He is now near to his best level and will have great hopes in Baku.
AIBA World Championships quarter-finalist, 28-year-old Kanat Abutalipov, has already secured his place at the London 2012 Olympic Games with the Individual Championships of the World Series of Boxing. Therefore the Central Asians will only send nine competitors to Baku.
AIBA World Championships bronze medallist, Birzhan Zhakipov, was close to an impressive win against China's top light flyweight favourite, Zou Shiming, at the Asian Games final last year. Hence, the 27-year-old Shymkent-based boxer's main target in Baku will be to beat World's No.1 Zou in their possible re-match.
In the flyweight class, former AIBA Cadet World Champion and Asian Championships bronze medallist, Olzhas Sattybayev, found his place back in the national team just this year. The 23-year-old flyweight athlete won the Nurmagambetov Tournament and also reached the gold at the Makar Mazay Memorial Tournament in Ukraine.
Actual National Champion of the lightweight class and World University Championships silver medallist, Gani Zhailauov, shocked the Russian fans when he eliminated twice Olympic Games winner Aleksey Tishchenko almost two years ago. Zhailauov has already the experience of World Championships even if he was defeated by Cuba's Idel Torriente in his opening contest in Milan.
Defending Asian Games winner and former AIBA Cadet World Champion, 20-year-old Daniyar Yeleussinov, is one of the biggest gold medal contenders in the light welterweight class. Roniel Iglesias (Cuba), Thomas Stalker (England) and Raymond Moylette (Ireland) will be his main opponents. The young boxer is the greatest Kazakh future hope and his coaches are expecting a lot from him.
Asian Games bronze medallist, 26-year-old Danabek Suzhanov, got involved in the national team last year after becoming National Champion. Since then, he reached at least bronze in each international tournaments where he competed. In Baku, he will give his best to reach the Olympic quota.
The biggest question about the team's composition was regarding the light heavyweight class where finally former Asian Junior Champion, Adilbek Niyazimbetov, was selected.
Kazakhstan's heavyweight No.1 and Asian Champion, 23-year-old Vasiliy Levit, reached gold at the Gagik Tsarukyan Memorial Tournament where he knocked out every and each of his rivals. AIBA Youth World Championships silver medallist, 21-year-old Ivan Dychko, secured silver at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and will be Kazakhstan's representative in the super heavyweight division.
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