Kyrgyzstan’s No.1, the Paris Olympics silver medallist Munarbek Seiitbek Uulu returned with a gold medal at the 34thedition of the Ahmet Comert Bosphorus International Boxing Tournament in Istanbul.
Uzbekistan topped the medal standings with five gold medals ahead of Ukraine’s four titles at the Ahmet Comert Bosphorus International Tournament. Turkey and Kazakhstan both bagged three titles in the event while Kyrgyzstan and Ireland both earned two gold medals in Istanbul.
The city of Istanbul will be the host of the next edition of the European Games on June 16-27 in 2027.
The bout of the day
Germany’s Jule Woche exceeded all of the previous expectations in the Ahmet Comert Tournament and she won three tough contests to reach the final of the competition. The German had to meet Kazakhstan’s Asian Youth Champion Assem Tanatar for the title of the women’s 65kg weight class. The Kazakh started the first round better but Woche was better minutes by minutes in this excellent final contest. The German produced a superb final round but she was not able to turn back this title bout which guaranteed Kazakhstan’s first gold medal in the event.
The surprise of the day
Kazakhstan’s Oner Seilkhan was a gold medallist at the 2024 Youth World Boxing Championships but the 19-year-old boxer is still new among the elites. Additionally, Seilkhan moved up two categories since his youth ages but he looked highly confident in the final against such an experienced and strong boxer as Ukraine’s European U23 Champion Dzhamal Kuliyev.
The Round-up
Uzbekistan’s Robiyakhon Bakhtiyorova moved back to the 48kg which is perfect for her physical condition and she impressed in the entire tournament. The young Uzbek controlled all of her contests in Istanbul, including the final against Zeynep Onen of Turkey. Her teammate, the Asian Youth Champion Uzukjamol Yunusova became also a champion in the event after beating Ireland’s Nicole Clyde at the 54kg.
Ireland sent a strong female team to the Ahmet Comert Tournament and two of their girls have crowned in the event. Firstly, the returning Caitlin Fryers defeated Turkey’s Eda Nur Kilicci at the women’s 51kg with top performance. Secondly, their European U22 Champion Niamh Fay continued her winning path and she had the perfect strategy against Serbia’s Jelena Zekic at the women’s 57kg.
Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova claimed a gold medal at the 2021 edition of the Asian Elite Boxing Championships and her main goal is to regain the top spot in the national squad at the women’s 60kg. The Paris Olympian maintained the best fighting distance in the first round against Turkey’s Esmanur Lok and she was able to continue the same performance until the last bell of the final.
Ukraine’s Anastasia Chernokolenko was a bronze medallist at the 2014 Women’s World Boxing Championships and after twelve years in the events, she was still speedy and motivated to win the 70kg. Her teammate, Raisa Piskun progressed in all aspects of boxing in the recent two years and she had the strong punches to take the title at the 80kg.
Romania’s Amalia Nita had brilliant results among the junior and youth events and the European Champion reached the top of the podium at the women’s 75kg, achieving her nation’s lone gold medal in Istanbul. Uzbekistan’s two-time Asian Youth Champion Sobirakhon Shakhobiddinova was the strongest boxer in the women’s +80kg and the 19-year-old talent defeated Ukraine’s Polina Chernenko to take the last female gold medal.
Turkey’s Salih Samet Oruc used his patient style of boxing to take the title of the men’s 50kg after beating Ulas Yalcinkaya. Semih Gumus bagged Turkey’s second gold medal in the event, he had a tough battle against Kyrgyzstan’s Zafarbek Kamilov at the 55kg. Vedat Kacar achieved Turkey’s third gold medal in the event, he succeeded over Australia’s Toby Reading at the men’s 75kg final.
Kyrgyzstan’s Paris Olympics silver medallist Munarbek Seiitbek Uulu reached amazing historic milestones for his nation’s boxing in 2023 and in 2024. The currently 30-year-old boxer returned in the Ahmet Comert Tournament in top shape and he had the comfortable success over Ukraine’s Ivan Zavadskyi at the 60kg.
Uzbekistan’s Ilkhomjon Ergashev (65kg), Kyrgyzstan’s Ikhtiyor Nishonov (70kg), Kazakhstan’s Ayan Kalmakhanbetov (85kg), and Ukraine’s duo, Yevhenii Pavlovskyi (90kg) and Dmytro Lovchinskyi (+90kg) also earned titles in Istanbul.