Held in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, the Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament brought together the best boxers from the Asian continent and the host nation ensured their fans left happy by taking six gold medals.
Filipino Light Flyweight No.1, 19-year-old London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga really made his mark in the tournament, first by defeating Uzbekistan's Shakhobiddin Zoirov in the semi-finals, then by edging it in his contest versus Russia's AIBA World Championships silver medallist David Ayrapetyan to win 10:9 and defend his title.
Asian Games quarter-finalist and multiple National Champion Shakhriyor Isakov started the haul of medals for the locals in the Flyweight division. The talented 24-year-old was too strong for his compatriot Javlon Kurbanov in the final. Rising Filipino star, 17-year-old President's Cup silver medallist Ian Clark Bautista took home a valuable bronze.
Uzbekistan's 18-year-old Jakhongir Davydov, although still eligible to compete at youth level, achieved a career highlight with the elites after defeating compatriot Doston Abdurakhmanov in the Bantamweight final. Davydov, born in 1994, will surely be a contender for honours at the upcoming AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships his October.
Beijing Olympian and former Asian Junior Champion Khurshid Tojibayev won a further gold medal for the host nation following a solid victory over 20-year-old Bobur Aytbayev. Tojibayev competed in several major competitions and at the World Series of Boxing but is now aiming to be involved in the national squad again, his victory here will have done his chances no harm.
21-year-old Uzbek Youth Champion Dostonbek Turdiyev claimed his first ever tournament title by beating teammate Shokhjakhon Ergashev 18:10 in the Light Welterweight class to continue the impressive series for the home fighters.
Russia's 25-year-old AIBA World Championships silver medallist Andrey Zamkovoy chose Tashkent as active preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games and he will have been delighted to come out on top in his battle against Uzbekistan's Asian Championships bronze medallist Nodirbek Kosimov. Zamkovoy had one point deficit coming into the final round but clawed his way back to claim the winner's crown in the capital city of Uzbekistan.
The host nation's current Asian Champion and young Middleweight contender Shukhrat Abdullayev triumphed over 21-year-old Nariman Gabdurafikov to secure Uzbekistan's fifth gold medal on their own patch.
Russia's former AIBA World Champion and two-time European Champion Yegor Mekhontsev secured only a bronze at the last edition of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku but is now finding form at just the right time. The Russian Light Heavyweight star had a three points' advantage coming into the final round against Uzbekistan's Youth Olympic Games bronze medallist Sardorbek Begaliyev but then was scintillating as he stromed to a 16:6 victory.
Former Asian Champion, 24-year-old Vasiliy Levit from Kazakhstan failed to reach the quota at the AIBA Asian Olympic Qualifying Event in April but decided to not give up on his dream and is now fully focused on being at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Heavyweight demonstrated his quality footwork against local fighter Akmal Rahmonov to take gold with an impressive 12:4 win.
18-year-old Ulugbek Mubinov, who was a bronze medallist at the last year's edition, claimed his first international tournament victory among the elite fighters on home soil as he triumphed over Russian National Championships bronze medallist Ilya Rudenko 8:6. Mubinov will be seeking a podium finish at this year's AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships which will be held in Bangkok.
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