Several IBA boxing World champions victorious at Qualifier in Italy
March 12th, 2024 / IBA, Paris Warriors
A total of 44 IBA-associated boxers claimed quotas for their nations at the Paris 2024, following the conclusion of the Qualification tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
The competition was excellently organized by the Italian Boxing Federation, and IBA provided support both to organizers and boxers.
The men’s 51kg category saw Cuba’s Alejandro Claro defeat Colombian World and Olympic medallist Yuberjen Martinez by split decision to seal a spot and will be joined by Nijat Huseynov of Azerbaijan, Juanma Lopez from Puerto Rico and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist and 2021 World champion, Saken Bibossinov of Kazakhstan.
Bibossinov’s compatriot, 2023 World champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan, defeated Tajikistan’s Asror Vokhidov in the men’s 57kg to qualify, alongside Commonwealth Games champion Jude Gallagher from Ireland and Yilmar Gonzalez from Colombia.
The most notable qualifier in the men’s 63.5kg was Bakhodur Usmonov from Tajikistan, the 2023 World bronze medallist, after his split decision win against Shion Nishiyama from Japan. Two-time Asian Championships silver medallist Obada Al-Kasbeh of Jordan is through, along with Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Abdullaev and Jesus Cova from Venezuela.
World champion from last year, Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev from Uzbekistan defeated Jordan’s Zeyad Eashash in the men’s 71kg tournament, joined by Bulgarian Rami Mofid Kiwan and fellow 2023 World champion Kazakh Aslanbek Shymbergenov.
Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan lead the way with five quotas each. Another Kazakh spot was sealed when another World champion, Nurbek Oralbay edged out Irish boxer Kelyn Cassidy in a close encounter at 80kg. Turabek Khabibullaev was victorious for Uzbekistan, as was Hungarian Pylyp Akilov and Kaan Aykutsun of Türkie.
Asian champion Aibek Oralbay defeated American Jamar Talley to give Kazakhstan a men’s 92kg spot, and joined his twin brother for a Paris 2024 national team, alongside Lazizbek Mullojonov of Uzbekistan, who is World bronze medallist, and Spanish World bronze medallist Enmanuel Reyes Pla, who defeated double World medallist Loren Alfonso of Azerbaijan on his way to victory.
In the heaviest weight category, the men’s +92kg, Italian Diego Lenzi, Omar Shiha of Norway and Djamili Aboudou Moindze from France all guaranteed spots for their nations.
In the lightest weight category, the women’s 50kg, Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova defeated Japanese Rinka Kinoshita to secure a quota place, with similar success for Aira Villegas of the Philippines and Colombian Ingrit Valencia, an Olympic bronze medallist from Rio 2016 and two-time world medallist.
Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong had a dominant run to securing her nation’s quota in the women’s 54kg tournament, joined by Vietnamese boxer Vo Thi Kim Anh and Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic, who secured their countries’ only places at the tournament. Italian Sirine Charaabi was also victorious, last beating South Korean Im Ae-ji, who herself defeated Huang Hsiao-wen of Chinese Taipei, twice crowned World champion.
Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Nesthy Petecio gave the Philippines another spot by beating Türkie’s Esra Yildiz in the women’s 57kg and Julia Szeremeta from Poland joins her, having won a tight split decision against Alyssa Mendoza from the United States.
Donjeta Sadiku secured a spot for Kosovo in the women’s 60kg, and is joined by 2016 World champion Alessia Mesiano, who claimed a place for Italy after winning a playoff against Slovakian Miroslava Jedinakova.
In the women’s 66kg, 2018 world champion Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei was victorious, as was Dominican Republic’s Maria Moronta, Poland’s Aneta Rygielska and 2019 World silver medallist Angela Carini from Italy.
Refugee team member Cindy Ngamba would secure a place in the women’s 75kg, beating Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova, a three-time world medallist, by referee’s stoppage. Norwegian Sunniva Hofstad won by the same fate against Swedish boxer Love Holgersson and they’re joined by two-time European silver medallist Elzbieta Wojcik from Poland.
Athletes will have another opportunity to earn a quota spot on behalf of their nation at the second and the last Qualification tournament in Bangkok from 26 May to June 2.
