Uzbekistan’s new Olympic Light Flyweight Champion Hasanboy Dusmatov wins the Val Barker Trophy for the outstanding male boxer of Rio 2016
August 21st, 2016 / IBA
Uzbekistan’s 23 year-old Olympic Light Flyweight Champion Hasanboy Dusmatov received the Val Barker Trophy for outstanding male boxer at Rio 2016 on Sunday as the Olympic Tournament drew to a close. Dusmatov, the first Uzbek to win the honour, was in superb form throughout the competition, beating the likes of USA’s Nico Hernandez and Kazakhstan’s Birzhan Zhakypov on route to the final. The first boxing gold medalist of Rio 2016 was crowned on Day Nine after a magnificent final with Colombia’s Yurberjen Martinez.
“I know my family will be happy for me and I am thrilled to be champion. I want to thank Rio for an amazing Olympic Games experience,” said a delighted Dusmatov.
Since 1934, the Val Barker Trophy has been awarded to the outstanding boxer at the Olympic Games as chosen by a committee of AIBA officials. Named after the President of the International Boxing Federation from 1926 to 1929, Englishman Val Barker, its previous winners include Cuban legend Teofilo Stevenson, Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachenko and Kazakhstan’s London 2012 Welterweight Champion Serik Sapayev.
