The Uzbekistan National Championships was one of the highlights in the previous days, following their women’s finals, the men boxers also decided the titles in Tashkent. Ruslan Abdullayev, Khavasbek Asadullayev, Turabek Khabibullayev and Lazizbek Mullojonov won the most important weight categories in Tashkent.
The Uzbekistan Elite National Championships served as the main selection competition in nine weight categories for the upcoming 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event which will be starting in Busto Arsizio, Italy on February 29.
Three of their male stars secured their spots through the Asian Games such as the Olympic Champions as Hasanboy Dusmatov (51kg) and Bakhodir Jalolov (+92kg), furthermore one of the best boxers in the entire world, Abdumalik Khalokov (57kg) are their quota holders for Paris. The three top stars missed the National Championships but there were huge challenges in the other four Olympic weight categories in Tashkent.
The men’s light welterweight (63.5kg) was one of the most important categories in the National Championships, the winner secured his place to the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event. The defending World Champion of the weight class, Ruslan Abdullayev defeated his main rivals as Adkhamjon Mukhiddinov and the Strandja Memorial winner Mujibullo Tursunov to win this weight class.
The World Champion Asadkhudja Muydinkhudjayev and Khavasbek Asadullayev marched into the finals of the light middleweight (71kg) following their successes over Aman Konsbekov and the former Asian Champion Ikboljon Kholdarov. Muydinkhudjayev was unable to box in the day of the finals and he claimed only silver medal in this national event.
Turabek Khabibullayev has claimed a gold medal at the 2022 Youth World Boxing Championships in La Nucia and after his strong performance in the preparation events, the 19-year-old boxer achieved a bronze at the Asian Games. Khabibullayev had strong rivals at home but he managed to beat all of his three rivals including the Asian U22 Champion Jasurbek Yuldashev.
The ASBC Asian Champion Lazizbek Mullojonov moved down to the heavyweight (92kg) this year and he started his campaign with a bronze medal at the World Boxing Championships. The 24-year-old boxer has strong athletic skills in this weight class which he demonstrated in the National Championships against Nusratbek Tokhirov and the World bronze medallist Madiyar Saidrakhimov.
The ASBC Asian U22 Champion Asilbek Jalilov, and the 2019 World Champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov controlled the flyweight (51kg) and the featherweight (57kg) in the absence of the qualified stars. Jalilov defeated Mukhammadkodir Mamirjonov before the Olympian Mirzakhalilov was too strong for a returning boxer, Khudoynazar Fayzov.
Dzhizak’s Jakhongir Zokirov is still only 20, but he is Youth World Champion, Asian U22 Champion, Asian Youth Champion and he has several international tournament titles. In the absence of the Olympic Champion Bakhodir Jalolov, he defeated Abdurakhim Jurayev in the final of the super heavyweight (+92kg).
An Asian silver medallist Shodiyorjon Melikuziev (48kg), the 2021 Youth World Champion Shakhzod Muzaffarov (54kg), the ASBC Asian U22 Champion Dilshod Abdumurodov (60kg) won important non-Olympic categories in Tashkent.
Kamronbek Turgunboyev moved back to the welterweight (67kg) and the 20-year-old boxer knocked out his main rival Bekzhod Khamidov and walked over to the title. The World Championships bronze medallist Alokhon Abdullayev (75kg) and Samandar Jalolov (86kg) won the remaining gold medals in the National Championships.
The list of the winners at the 2023 Uzbekistan Men’s Elite National Championships
57kg: Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov
Source: ASBC News