The Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament for boxers aged 17 to 18 year old came to an end in Anapa, Russia, earlier this month, with some impressive prospects making their marks. At the tournament 122 hungry young fighters battled it out for medals. Twelve strong nations were represented in Russia, which included along with the hosts, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
In the light flyweight class, relatively unknown Muradzhon Akhmadaliyev of Uzbekistan bagged himself the gold medal after defeating Russia's 17-year-old European Junior Championships silver medallist Yusup Gazayev 28:15 in the final. Under par Turkmen National Elite Champion Shatlykmurat Muradov failed to reach the podium in Anapa.
Cuba's best youth Flyweight Jorge Cordero claimed the Caribbean nation's only gold medal at the tournament. 18-year-old Cordero defeated Ireland's Junior National Champion Hugh Joyce 12:8 in the semi-final before overcoming the challenge of Russia's Abbas Agalarov Youth Memorial Tournament silver medallist Bakhtovar Nazirov 8:6 in the final.
Russia's AIBA Junior World Championships bronze medallist Magomed-Rashid Dzhabrailov and his teammate Yevgeniy Baklashkin both eliminated the two Cuban youngsters Alexei Guibert and Armando Martinez in the semi-finals. When they met in the bantamweight final, Dzhabrailov prevailed to take the gold and he looks like he will make a big impact at the AIBA Youth World Championships in Bangkok in October.
Russian Junior National Champion Shamil Chechenov competed in his first youth tournament in Anapa and claimed the gold medal in his new weight class. Chechenov was in a great battle with Uzbekistan's Elnur Abdurakhimov in the semi-final and won by accepted scores. In the final, he then defeated the top favourite in the Lightweight draw, Russian Youth National Champion Kristian Stepanov, by 8:5.
Russia's 18-year-old Zaur Abdullayev was the only one in the tournament to defend his title. He defeated his tough compatriot, AIBA Junior World Champion Sergey Sobylinskiy by 16:12 in the final while Cuba's National Junior Games winner Kevin Brown and Uzbekistan's Anvar Turapov both claimed bronze medals.
Uzbekistan's best youth boxer, Abbas Agalarov Youth Memorial Tournament winner and multiple-National Champion Akmalbek Kosimov battled Russia's defending European Youth Champion Igor Kharitonov in the Welterweight final. Avenging his previous loss to him, Kosimov achieved the Central Asian nation's second final victory in Anapa while Kazakhstan's promising Maksim Panarin earned a bronze.
Kazakhstan's Uman Liberation Junior Tournament silver medallist Daulet Baygabatov, who will turn 17 in August, won the Middleweight gold medal after beating Azerbaijan's Heydar Aliyev Junior Cup bronze medallist Orkhan Mayili, who had eliminated Russia's European Youth Championships silver medallist Magomed Madiyev in the semi-finals.
Azerbaijan's current European Youth Champion Rauf Rahimov moved up a weight class last year and has looked at ease since, displaying excellent footwork in the Light Heavyweight division to devastating effect. In the final contest against Kazakhstan's Brandenburg Youth Cup bronze medallist Dinislam Abdesov he won 10:8 while Belarus' top youth fighter, European Junior Championships silver medallist Vitaliy Horyn claimed a bronze.
Russia's European Junior Championships bronze medallist Ivan Kabatov defeated Kazakhstan's Brandenburg Youth Cup bronze medallist Alisher Aman in the Heavyweight semi-final and following that success he triumphed over compatriot, Nikiforov Cup bronze medallist, Mansur Sardalov 9:8 to claim gold.
Russia's17-year-old European Schoolboys Champion Khodzhiakbar Mamakov was in a big battle against Cuba's Youth National Champion and Super Heavyweight sensation Yoandris Toirac. The final ended in an impressive 15:11 victory for Mamakov. Uzbekistan's Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament bronze medallist Ulugbek Mubinov was eliminated by Toirac in the semi-final.
Copyright © 2012 AIBA http://www.aiba.org