Archive for the ‘Amateur Boxing’ Category

Olympic Boxing News - Kazakhstan Dominates Zharylgapov Memorial Tournament

A strong Kazakh team dominated the Galym Zharylgapov Memorial Tournament in Karaganda despite the nation’s best boxers missing the event because they have to relax and prepare well before the top events in 2011.

By AIBA

Next to Kazakhstan, other former Soviet nations as Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan competed at the tournament. The local squad claimed eight out of ten weight classes, while Ukraine and Uzbekistan celebrated one final victory.

Kazakhstan’s new big hope Adilkhan Amangeldy, who celebrated his 17th birthday some months ago, unexpectedly won the light flyweight class in Karaganda. The young talent defeated more experienced Brandenburg Youth Tournament winner Anvar Muzaparov in the quarterfinal, Turkish Prime Ministry Tournament bronze medalist Mardan Berikbayev and finally Temirtas Zhusupov.

Kazakh National Championships bronze medalist 20-year-old Almas Zhakipov had a hard fight in the flyweight final against Kyrgyzstan’s speedy Azat Usenaliyev, who moved up a division after the Asian Games. The final verdict was 3:1 to Zhakipov, who secured the gold medal, while experienced Asian Junior Champion Anuarbek Bayzhanov was eliminated in the first preliminary round.

Almaty-based 20-year-old Bekman Soilybayev, who competed at the University World Championships in Ulanbaatar, was too strong for the bantamweight participants. Soilybayev defeated Oraz Afzolshoyev of Tajikistan, Khasanov Memorial Tournament winner Merbolat Toitov and Kazakh National Championships silver medalist Zhandos Momunov.

Kazakhstan’s Asian Junior Championships bronze medalist 22-year-old Zhaksylyk Ilyasov won against Mishra Memorial Tournament winner teenager Almatbek Agybayev in the lightweight class final.

Karaganda-based 20-year-old Kuanysh Galimtayev defeated Tajikistan’s Amber Gloves Tournament winner veteran Madadi Nagzibekov in the first preliminary round and was unstoppable thereafter in the 64kg division. Kyrgyzstan’s World Combat Games winner Ermek Sakenov was eliminated in the quarterfinal.

At the welterweight class another Karaganda boxer, relatively unknown 19-year-old Bobyrzhan Mominov, was crowned in the home ring. He eliminated his biggest rivals Furkhat Akhmetov, Chyngyz Berdybekov, Kanagat Maralov and Nurbol Altayev on his long road to the gold medal.

Former Kazakh National Champion and Asian Junior Champion Adilbek Niyazimbetov found the right way back to success and did his best in Karaganda. The 21-year-old boxer from Mangystau defeated Askhat Zhakipbekov in the semifinal by accepted scores and Marlen Bekkulov by 1:0 in the middleweight final.

Uzbekistan’s Ahrorbek Kurbanov missed his national event and competed at the Zharylgapov Memorial Tournament brilliantly. The 23-year-old Uzbek boxer first had to beat Kyrgyzstan’s multiple National Champion Ruslan Karipov in a hard battle but afterwards shocked the local boxers and won the gold medal after beating Danil Shved of Russia, while Kazakhstan’s newly crowned champion Almat Serimov claimed only a bronze.

Karaganda-based 19-year-old Azat Abildinov became Kazakh Youth National Champion in 2009 but reached his top heavyweight result at the Galym Zharylgapov Memorial Tournament. Abildinov defeated his compatriots, youth Aleksandr Gulevskiy in the semifinal and Kamshybek Kunkabayev in the gold medal contest.

In Ivan Dychko’s and Ruslan Myrsatayev’s absence Ukraine’s 25-year-old Andriy Tomchuk eliminated the top Kazakh boxers National Champion Zhan Kosobutskiy, strong Andrey Plakhotnyuk and experienced Vitaliy Bondarenko in the superheavy weight division.

Source: AIBA

Photo: The Kazakh team at the Galym Zharylgapov Memorial Tournament

Photo Credit: Marina Ni

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Malta’s No 1 60Kg Olympic Boxer Haithem Laamouz, with a current record of 16 fights 11 wins and 5 losses has been invited once again to compete in the UK this Month.

Haithem Laamouz has recently defeated top amateur boxer Jack Fraiser, last November.

Laamouz has been training hard 3 times daily for these two upcoming duals in the UK.

This will be the first time that Haithem competes in the UK this year,

Haithem is boxing on the 22^nd against Danny May (61Kg) of Norwich Diamonds at the King Fisher ABC Boxing Show. And Steve Wyartt (6oKg) on the 28th for Fitzroy Lodge boxing club on the Lion ABC Show

Although Haithem is still based in Malta at the Lord’s Gym, he has for the past months been registered with the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE). This happened after the local Maltese boxing federation lost it’s AIBA membership in late 2010 and Maltese boxers became illegible to participate in AIBA events at any level.

Laamouz, who is without a doubt Malta’s best boxing prospect has run out of local competition since early 2010 and his move to the Kingfisher Boxing Club in Norwich, England, is the most logical step if he is to further his boxing career. At the Kingfisher he is coached and sponsored by Glen Saffer, who is a friend and mentor to the young Laamouz and under whose tutelage the Maltese prospect has started to mature as a fighter and develop his ring craftsmanship. Laamouz is also sponsored by the Lord’s Gym Malta. In recent comments to Malta Boxing News, Laamouz thanked both the Maltese and English clubs for their strong support.

Photos:

Haithem Laamouz, with his greatest supporter , his dad Mohamed

Glen Saffer - Haithem Lammouz’s coach

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The Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) is advertising for a chief executive, although current incumbent Paul King is said to be keen to retain his position and tipped as a strong contender for the job.

Since 2005, the role has been undertaken by King under a secondment agreement with his employers City Liverpool Council. However, this agreement ceases on March 31 and the ABAE board has decided to appoint a full-time chief executive.

insidethegames: has quoted King as saying “It is my full intention to continue as chief executive of the ABAE and continue the fantastic work that has been done over the last five years. - “I feel I still have a huge amount to give to English boxing and, if all goes well, I will ensure that the huge success we have had in recent times continues and grows further in the future.”

Under King, English boxing has shown considerable improvement.

The chief executive position, which offers an annual salary of around £100,000 ($156,000), is based in English Institute of Sport Sheffield where GB Boxing’s Podium and Development Squads are training ahead of the London 2012 Olympics under performance director Rob McCracken and his coaching and support team.

The job description on the ABAE website states: “The chief executive will be responsible for the overall strategic delivery of the ABAE Whole Sport Plan (WSP).

“The role is to lead and direct the WSP and sport, to achieve success in growing participation, sustaining participation and ensure a robust performance pathway is in place for people and the sport to excel at all levels.

“The successful candidate must have a proven track record of success in driving a sport or other organisation forward and developing a world class organisation based around success, change and good governance.

“The chief executive reports to the ABAE board of directors.

“The chief executive will oversee and direct the work of all ABAE staff through a line management process engaging with the senior management group, development officers, NGB coaches and administration staff plus associated support agencies.

“The chief executive will also play a vital role helping to galvanise the support and development of the regions, clubs and coaches, officials and volunteers in order to deliver the interventions, outcomes and success of the WSP.”

The ABAE is an integral and equal partner alongside Wales and Scotland of the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) and the chief executive of ABAE will be a board member of BABA.

The closing date for applications is January 14 with interviews set to take place on January 28.

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Exciting times for school boxing academy

Balby Carr Boxing Academy in Doncaster is leading the way for boxing in South Yorkshire schools, as pupils and teachers have become involved in all areas of the sport, from volunteering to getting ready to compete in the ring.

The club, which is based within Balby Carr Sports and Science College, got involved with the ABAE’s Step into Sport project, which is aimed at providing young people with an opportunity to get involved in volunteering and leadership. The popularity of the scheme has seen students donating their own time to support local coaches to deliver boxing to nearly 2000 secondary school students.

Sheffield and South Yorkshire Boxing Development Officer Tom Gilbert, who is now based at the school two days per week, said: “The club is going from strength to strength. Fourteen novice boxers who started in September have been training hard, both within the school and at the three local clubs attached to the academy. They have had expert coaching from senior coaches and most are ready to start competing now.”

Teacher and professional boxer Adam Kelly has been working with coaches from local clubs Tom Hill ABC and Doncaster Plant ABC to develop the project. As well as after-school boxing sessions, non-contact boxing is now a regular part of the school’s PE curriculum.

The academy is hoping to become a member of the ABAE next season, so that its boxers can represent the school in competition.

Tom said: “These are exciting times for Balby Carr. All of the PE staff have been trained to deliver boxing sessions and the school has shown its commitment by adding 200 electronic foldaway seats to the sports hall, making it an ideal venue for shows and championships. It has also been successful in achieving a small amount of funding to purchase equipment to keep up with the demand in school.”

The school is offering a variety of academic courses for students who wish to stay in education while pursuing a career in amateur boxing. The courses include 6 hours of quality boxing coaching and boxing-related lectures, including regular visits from a sports psychologist and nutritionist .

Each student receives a boxing package which includes full kit, including a tracksuit and boxing gloves.

Anyone interested should contact Tom Gilbert Boxing Development Officer for Sheffield and South Yorkshire on 07825578082

Can you help?

The school is currently looking at ways to finance a boxing ring to complete the gym facilities, and has made a plea to anyone in the boxing community who has a spare ring to sell or donate. If you can help please contact Tom on the number above.

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Tom Stalker has had a good start to 2011 after he was named the British Olympic Association (BOA) boxer of the year for 2010.

26-year-old Stalker from Liverpool established himself as GB Boxing’s top choice in the 60kg at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, were he took a gold medal for England.

He also claimed victory at the Great Britain Boxing Championships at the Echo Arena in Liverpool in November and a silver medal at the European Championships in Moscow to put himself firmly in line for selection in the Olympic qualifying events in 2011.

Stalker was also named the Amateur Boxer of the Year (Photo) by the Boxing Writer’s Club of Great Britain.

Stalker started boxing rather late at the age of 18 turning his life around from being a tearaway to a top boxing athlete.

Paul King, the chief executive of the ABAE has tipped Stalker as a big prospect the London 2012, Olympics.

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Amateur Boxing Scotland Brings Back Boxing

By AIBA

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Amateur Boxing Scotland has launched an ambitious campaign to promote and develop boxing in Scotland with a Home International Series entitled BRING BACK BOXING. As Amateur Boxing Scotland’s Marketing Manager Colin Baxter explains, the idea behind the campaign is twofold:

“Firstly to give our young boxers experience on the international stage, which is completely different from district and national championships. By participating in the internationals, the boxers will gain experience in the training schedules and preparation required for international boxing competition as well as the overall experience of ring parade, large audience, press and competing against high caliber opposition from other boxing nations.”

The Series will furthermore help to identify boxers with the talent to progress to the Commonwealth Games squad selection for 2014, when the event will be held in Glasgow, and beyond.

According to Baxter, the second idea behind the series is “to generate interest in the sport from a competitive perspective; to get more people involved in boxing and also from a health and fitness perspective as boxing is a fantastic way for people to keep fit.”

It is hoped that the Series will help to foster interest in people who do not necessarily wish to compete but who are nevertheless interested in boxing for its health and fitness benefits. This would ultimately boost audience figures at events and increase the general exposure and popularity of the sport.

Two international matches have already been held last December, with Scotland taking on cross-border rivals England on 11th December and then Sweden on 18th December.

The next two events will take place at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh. The first is against Wales on 15th January, where two top bouts will feature Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games boxers Aston Brown and Joe Ham, plus the first-ever Scottish international female clash.

This will be followed by Scotland v Northern Ireland on 22nd January with a top of the bill bout featuring Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medalist Josh Taylor.

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Irish Olympic Boxing Awards 2010

IABA

Katie Taylor and the European Senior Championships medal winning quintet of Paddy Barnes, Darren O’Neill, Eric Donovan, Tyrone McCullagh and Ken Egan shared the Elite Achievement Award as the IABA celebrated another outstanding year at its Annual Awards Night at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin last night.

Elite Achievement Awards

Katie Taylor

Paddy Barnes,

Darren O’Neill

Ken Egan

Eric Donovan

Tyrone McCullagh

International Achievement Awards

David Oliver Joyce

Philip Sutcliffe

Ross Hickey

Roy Sheahan

John Joe Nevin

Willie McLaughlin

Jason Quigley

Sean Turner

A Team

Niall Murray

Commonwealth Games Medalists

Paddy Barnes

Patrick Gallagher

Eamon O’Kane

Tommy McCarthy

Steven Ward

Schoolboy/girl Youth International Awards

John Joe Joyce

Wayne Kelly

Michael Gallagher

Christina Gargan

Katie Rowland

Nichole Meli

Micheala Walsh

Sarah Close

Claire Grace

AIBA World Youth Championships

Joe Ward

Ryan Burnett

Youth Olympics

Ryan Burnett

Individual Awards

Schoolboy: Bernard McDonagh

Youth: Christy Joyce

Junior: Stephen Broadhurst

U/21: Kieran Forde

Intermediate: Sean Allen

Elite: Eric Donovan

Best Club: Ryston

Best Coach(s): Ryston

Referee & Judge: Anna Moore/ Al Morris

Achievement award: Zuar Antia

Hall of Fame

Jim McCourt

Sean Crowley

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Katie Taylor and the European Senior Championships medal winning quintet of Paddy Barnes, Darren O’Neill, Eric Donovan, Tyrone McCullagh and Ken Egan shared the Elite Achievement Award as the IABA celebrated another outstanding year at its Annual Awards Night at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin last night.

Taylor, the current World, European, EU and Irish champion and AIBA World female boxer of theyear, and Barnes, the reigning European, Commonwealth and Irish champion and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, also shared the Best Overall Boxer award.

Current AIBA World Youth and Olympic Youth champions Joe Ward and Ryan Burnett had their remarkable achievements in 2010 recognised, while the Ryston BC in Kildare scooped the Best club and Best coaches awards in a year which sees the IABA celebrate its 100th birthday.

European bronze medalist and Irish senior champion Eric Donovan picked up the Elite boxer award. “I’ve have a fantastic twelve months and I’ll be looking to improve on that this year, said the St Michael’s Athy lightweight. “It’s always special to receive an award like this and to receive it in the Association’s centenary year is extra special.”

Meanwhile, Jim McCourt was inducted into the IABA Hall of Fame.

McCourt, boxing out of the Immaculata BC in Belfast, won a bronze medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo - Ireland’s only medal at the Games- and a bronze medal at the 1965 European Championships.

He also claimed Commonwealth gold and seven Irish senior titles at three different weights in a stellar career spanning the 60s and 70s.

The Northern Ireland team were also honoured at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel following their unprecedented haul of three gold and two silver medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

Geesala prospect Katie Rowland, a silver medal winner at the European Youth Championships, was back on top of the podium along with nine other boxers in the Schoolboy/girl Youth International category.

Sean Crowley was also inducted into the IABA Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding contribution as an administrator to Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, while Anna Moore and Al Morris got the decision in the best Referee & Judge category.

Last night’s ceremony was attended by Dr John Lynch, Chairman of the IABA Board of Directors, IABA CEO Don Stewart, John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council and Pat Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland and IABA Director of Boxing Dominic O’Rourke.

IABA President Tommy Murphy said that Ireland’s boxers were a credit to their country, adding that the achievements of 2010, one of which saw Ireland finish in second spot behind powerhouses Russia in the medals table at the European Championships, marked Ireland out as one of the top amateur boxing nations in the world.

RTE’s Jimmy Magee, who was MC for the night, described the present epoch as the golden era of Irish boxing.

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By AIBA

The 2nd Golden Belt Tournament was held in Portoviejo, Ecuador from December 15-17, and was attended by AIBA Vice-President and President of the American Boxing Confederation Mr. Ing. Domingo Solano.

The organizers opened the event to junior as well as youth athletes in view of the forthcoming 2011 AIBA Junior World Championships, which will be held in Kazakhstan in July. The even’ts gold medalists will therefore be looking to make their mark in the upcoming tournaments in 2011.

Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela participated in the junior and youth competitions. Boxers born in 1995 and 1996 were eligible to compete at junior level, while athletes born in 1992-1994 could take part in the youth competition.

Ecuador’s best youth boxer, reigning Panamerican Elite Champion and AIBA Junior World Championships silver medalist Italo Perea, missed the tournament. Ecuador’s boxing life is in a developing stage and the country’s elite athletes won the team event at the Panamerican Men’s Championships in June.

Among the youth boxers local 18-year-old Danilo Fernandez defeated Panamerican Youth Championships silver medalist and more experienced Michael Tello of Guatemala, while two Venezuelan fighters secured the bronze medals in the light flyweight class.

In the youth bantamweight division 17-year-old Cesar Diaz won Peru’s first major international gold medal for many years after beating Kleber Gonzalez of Venezuela by 19:9.

AIBA Youth World Championships quarterfinalist Fradimil Macayo of Venezuela defeated Panamerican Junior Championships silver medalist 16-year-old Anthony Macias of Ecuador by 6:4 in the lightweight final. Macayo’s teammate Joelvis Hernandez continued Venezuela’s great winning series at youth level.

The youth welterweight class was a Venezuelan home fight, where AIBA Youth World Championships bronze medalist Samuel Zapata was surprisingly defeated by his compatriot 17-year-old Jose Cesar by 7:3. Light heavyweight Alfonso Flores claimed Venezuela’s fourth gold medal after defeating Leonardo Cavaneiro in the closest contest of the day.

At the junior competition in Portoviejo 15-year-old Isaac Pinto of Ecuador won the lowest weight class while Anthony Ortiz of Puerto Rico showed his excellent skills in the 48kg division and claimed the strong Central American nation’s only gold medal.

Angel Sacon and Ludy Tenorio followed Ecuador’s great run, while Dominican Republic’s new talents Huascar Ramirez at bantamweight and Edwin Franco at lightweight class claimed the gold medals.

Ecuador’s best junior boxer Cristhian Ocampo deserves a special mention after shocking his opponent in the final. Yeison Almonte from the Dominican Republic was unable to respond to Ocampo’s excellent combinations in the 66kg gold medal bout leaving the final verdict 27:3 to the 15-year-old Ecuadorian talent.

Photo: Huascar Ramirez, the winner of the junior 54kg weight class

(Photo Credit: Ing. Alex Gonzalez)

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AIBA International Boxing Association PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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