The Baku 2015 boxing test event continued with a number of memorable bouts in the Crystal Hall, including victory for France’s Samuel Kistohurry in the bantamweight division ©Baku 2015

A modest crowd were treated to further home success during a bumper schedule of boxing as the Great Silk Way Elite Boxing tournament continued, with 14 fights taking place on the second day of competition here.

The only final of the day proved to be a damp squib, though, as in the women’s lightweight division, Azerbaijan’s Yana Alekseeva was awarded a walkover after her opponent Leyla Gadzhiyeva of Russia failed to appear for the contest, handing Alekseeva the title without having to step into the ring.

A spokesperson for the tournament said: “The bout was awarded to the Azerbaijani boxer after the Russian opponent failed to complete the daily weigh-in process.”

Despite the disappointment, the home crowd saw four of their five boxers claim victories in the afternoon’s preliminary rounds, as Roman Zakirov overcame Russia’s Azamat Kappushev in the welterweight division, after Kanan Huseynaliyev and Tayfur Aliyev had progressed through their bantamweight quarter-final bouts.

The pair are now set to meet in the semi-finals and it took an all-Azerbaijan light-flyweight bout between Javid Dadashov and Rufat Huseynov to bring about the only defeat for a home boxer in the afternoon session as Dadashov earned a split decision victory.

“This is the first time we have competed against each other,” Dadashov said afterwards.

“It doesn’t matter for me, a rival is a rival when we get into the ring.”

The only other light-flyweight bout saw Russia’s Bator Sagaluev claim a split decision victory over Uzbekistan’s Abdullo Quchkarov to set up a semi-final meeting with Dadashov.

Azerbaijan’s Yana Alekseeva was awarded a walkover after her opponent Leyla Gadzhiyeva of Russia failed to appear for the contest and the judges disqualified her
Azerbaijan’s Yana Alekseeva was awarded a walkover after her opponent Leyla Gadzhiyeva of Russia failed to appear for the contest and the judges disqualified her ©Baku 2015

The evening session saw the quality raised once more, with France’s Samuel Kistohurry producing one of the most impressive performances so far of the Baku 2015 test event in the bantamweight division.

Kistohurry claimed a unanimous points victory over Hungarian Mark Szoros, with two judges awarding the Frenchman the fight by 30 points to 24, while the third judge gave him the contest 30-23.

The second bantamweight contest of the evening saw the first stoppage of the event after a cagey fight between Turkey’s Selcuk Eker and Bulgaria’s Stefan Ivanov, which concluded after a clash of heads saw both players cut, with the Turkish fighter triumphing on the judges’ scorecards.

The contest was a rare scrappy affair, however, on a night which enthralled a lively crowd, who cheered not only the boxers but the Azerbaijani judge when he was announced, with the men’s middleweight seeing two of the tightest verdicts.

Kazakhstan’s Yerik Alzhanov and Azerbaijan’s Kamran Shakhsuvarli were both awarded split decision triumphs, which were scored 29-28, 29-28, 28-29, over Russia’s Igor Kharitonov and Uzbekistan’s Ulugbek Khakberdiev in their respective contests.
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The home crowd enjoyed success for several Azerbaijani boxers ©Baku 2015
While the afternoon’s fights were dominated by Azerbaijani boxers, the evening’s action saw a wide spread of countries witnessing their athletes progress, with all four light heavyweight clashes seeing a different nationality reach the next round.

Uzbekistan’s Elshod Rasulov advanced on the judges scorecards following the referee halting his fight due to Rasulov sustaining a cut to his head, while Turkey’s Cem Karlidag clinched a split decision triumph over Georgia’s Roman Tavadze.

The final contests of the day saw unanimous points victories for Belarussian Siarhel Novikau and the hyper-aggressive and energetic Bulgarian Radoslav Pantaleev in their bouts with home favourite Vatan Huseynli and Hungary’s Norbet Harcsa respectively.

Tomorrow's action at the Crystal Hall, which will host volleyball, boxing, karate, taekwondo and fencing at the inaugural European Games in June, will see quarter-finals take place in the men’s light welterweight and heavyweight competition, while women’s titles will be decided in the women’s bantamweight and light welterweight divisions.



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