The Golden Valley Tournament is a new elite boxing competition in Uzbekistan which was recently held in the city of Andizhan.

Uzbekistan claimed nine gold medals on home soil in the event where only Kazakhstan was able to win a weight class besides the host nation’s squad.

Experienced Uzbek boxers such as two-time Asian Games competitor Mirzohidjon Abdullayev, Asian Games quarter-finalist Shahriyor Isakov, Summer Universiade silver medallist Azizbek Abdugofurov and 2011 ASBC Asian Continental Champion Shuhrat Abdullayev all won their weight classes in the Golden Valley Tournament.

Athlete of the tournament
Uzbekistan’s Mirzohidjon Abdullayev first took part in their national team five years ago, and the Super Heavyweight class (+91 kg) boxer wants to regain his previous top place in the squad to give himself a chance to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Abdullayev enjoyed an excellent Golden Valley Tournament in Andizhan where he won all of his bouts by a large margin of difference.

He defeated Uzbek Youth National Champion Gaybulla Kuchkarov in the semi-finals and former ASBC Asian Junior Continental Champion Asilbek Soliyev in the gold medal bout.

Team of the tournament
Uzbekistan claimed nine gold medals in the event where Abrorbek Abdusalomov won their first title in the Golden Valley Tournament.

Abrorjon Kodirov won his first elite tournament, while Shahriyor Isakov achieved the gold medal at the Bantamweight class (56 kg) where he was too strong for his teammate Ravshanbek Shermatov.

Sobirjon Turgunov is a rising hope of Uzbekistan and won the Valentin Zolotarev Memorial Tournament last year, and he was able to continue his winning way in Andizhan.

The young hope defeated AIBA Junior World Championships competitor 19-year-old Ziyodin Tokhirov in the final of the Light Welterweight class (64 kg).

Following Mukhammadsalim Sotvoldiyev’s success at the Welterweight class (69 kg), Azizbek Abdugofurov won a further title.

Shuhrat Abdullayev was a gold medallist at the 2011 ASBC Asian Continental Championships in Incheon, Korea and won his first title in his new category in Andizhan.

Surprise of the tournament
Ravshanbek Umurzakov was a bronze medallist at the Sidney Jackson Memorial Tournament and at the Uzbek National Championships, and finally secured a gold emdal at the Golden Valley Tournament.

Umurzakov defeated a tough athlete in the final of the event in Andizhan where he stopped AIBA Junior World Championships gold medallist Aliyor Noraliyev.

One to watch
Kazakhstan’s Duisenkul Shopokov Memorial Tournament bronze medallist Nurlan Nurseitov is a Heavyweight class (91 kg) hope of the Central Asian country, and he was too strong for the host nation’s Sanjarbek Abdusalomov in the semi-final, while he defeated Uzbekistan’s Sidney Jackson Memorial Tournament bronze medallist Rustamjon Ismoilov in the gold medal bout.

• List of the winners in Andizhan
  49 kg: Abrorbek Abdusalomov, Uzbekistan
  52 kg: Abrorjon Kodirov, Uzbekistan
  56 kg: Shahriyor Isakov, Uzbekistan
  60 kg: Ravshanbek Umurzakov, Uzbekistan
  64 kg: Sobirjon Turgunov, Uzbekistan
  69 kg: Mukhammadsalim Sotvoldiyev, Uzbekistan
  75 kg: Azizbek Abdugofurov, Uzbekistan
  81 kg: Shuhrat Abdullayev, Uzbekistan
  91 kg: Nurlan Nurseitov, Kazakhstan
  +91 kg: Mirzohidjon Abdullayev, Uzbekistan

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