Ordos Boxing Tournament (Photo source: Giovanni Manzoni)

The 2012 Ordos International Boxing Challenge kicked off during the last week of August in Ordos, China. A total of 80 boxers participated in the competition, with half of them coming from Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Thailand and Uzbekistan.

Jiang Jinyong, China's Asian Youth Champion and National Elite Championships silver medallist, who turned 20 a couple of month ago, won the lowest Lightweight (60kg)class in the Ordos Boxing Tournament. In the final he triumphed over Lu Bin, the current Chinese Youth National Champion 18-year-old, preparing himself for the upcoming AIBA Youth World Championships which are going to be held in Yerevan, Armenia this year.

Hong Hong, China's new Flyweight (52kg) hope and National Championships silver medallist claimed the next gold medal for the host nation after beating National Championships bronze medallist Du Yuyu, who has been part of the national elite team since 2008 but failed his last step again. Enkhdelger Karkhuu, Mongolia 17-year-old competed his first ever international elite competition but failed to win any medal in the event.

At the Bantamweight (56kg)class the host nation's Dang Yong and his compatriot Luo Shaofang who was quarter-finalist at the annual Chinese Nationals Championships, both made great performance during the tournament.
Finally Dang Yong showcased his full repertoire of skills to take the gold in beating his younger rival in a narrow fight.

Gu Yu, China's previous Bantamweight (56kg) No.1, Beijing Olympian and AIBA World Championships quarter-finalist, moved up a weight class and won his first international competition in his new division.
Xia Lingjie, the gold medallist at the Chinese Youth National Championships last year met ten years his senior rival Gu Yu who had just enough experience to beat him in the final of the Lightweight (60kg) class.

Hu Richabilige, China's Xinjiang-based Asian Games competitor eliminated Kazakhstan's Almasbek Alibekov who is No.2 just behind London Olympian Daniyar Yeleussinov in the Central Asian nation.

Following that success in the semi-final the Chinese Light Welterweight (69kg) boxer triumphed over Thailand's former Asian Champion 22-year-old Wuttichai Masuk who unexpectedly could not qualify for the London 2012 Olympics.

Apichet Saensit, Thailand's two-time Southeast Asian Games winner 25-year-old used up all of his experience to beat Italy's Alfonso Di Russo at the Welterweight (69kg) class. The European boxer eliminated Kyrgyzstan's National Champion Kanybek Azamat Ulu in the semi-final stage of the event and claimed the gold medal against the tough Thai fighter as well.

Shuhrat Abdullayev, Uzbekistan's current Middleweight (75kg) Asian Champion could not secure his place in the national top team this year following his loss against two-time AIBA World Champion Abbos Atoev who claimed a bronze medal in the London 2012 Olympics. The 22-year-old Abdullayev advanced to the final of the Ordos Boxing Tournament where he triumphed over China's Li Meng.

Arman Rysbek, Kazakhstan's future hope National Champion and Asian Championships bronze medallist will be celebrating his 22nd birthday next month and dominated his final fight against Russia's newcomer Soslan Asbarov at the final of the Light Heavyweight (81kg) class. Rysbek's final victory was the only Kazakh gold medal in the tournament.

Li Mingtao, China's Korotkov Memorial Tournament silver medallist, defeated Kazakhstan's Great Silk Way Tournament winner Aleksey Sevostyanov in the semi-final and fought against Uzbekistan's Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament gold medallist Rustam Tulaganov. The Heavyweight (91kg) boxer from the Heilongjiang Province unexpectedly won their gold medal contest due his excellent final round.

Nikita Stogov, the Super Heavyweight (91+kg) boxer was too strong for Uzbekistan's AIBA Asian Olympic Qualifiers bronze medallist 21-year-old Izzatulla Ergashev in the last final of the event. Russia's former Youth National Champion Nikita Stogov claimed this strong boxing nations only gold medal during the Ordos Boxing Tournament in China.

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