ZHAKYPOV, BARRIGA'S CONQUEROR IN LONDON, WINS THE GOLD IN AIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Oct 2013
Host Kazakhstan was the overall champion with four golds, two silvers and two bronzes in the recently concluded AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty. But the first Kazakh boxer who was awarded the gold medal was Birzhan Zhakypov, the boxer whom Mark Anthony Barriga suffered with an agonizing defeat in the 2012 London Olympics.
With the home advantage, Zhakypov overpowered Algerian Mokhamed Flissi in the light flyweight finals as the Kazakh dominated the bout especially the third and final round as the Algerian fizzled out to convince the judges of a 3-0 unanimous decision.
"I?m filled with emotions! I don?t know what to say. I?m happy! I was training not in vain, and chose boxing not in vain too. I was extremely unhappy before, something prevented me from becoming the world champion. However today Allah helped me, my cherished dream has been implemented," he was quoted by Boxing Federation.
Zhakypov declared further: "I want to thank everybody: coaches, supporters, Boxing Federation. They all believed in me, I?m awfully glad because I have proved my competence. I can say just one thing about the opponent: his mentors represent strong Soviet school, correspondingly I have had a sticky time. But due to fantastic support of native fans I could overcome log-awaited victory."
Myrzagali Aytzhanov, the head coach of Kazakhstani national team was all praises for his first gold medalist: "Zhakypov was fighting excellent, I?m extremely glad about his victory. He was going to this champion title during the whole fifteen years. Time will show if he should hang the boxing gloves on a nail."
The Kazakh boxer, the number one seed in his weight division, did not experience major problems on his way to the finals. He defeated his toughest opponent Hasanboy Dusmatov from the neighboring state of Uzbekistan. He outclassed Yosvany Veit?a Soto of Cuba, who eliminated Barriga in the second round by unanimous decision.
With the departure of Paddy Barnes of Ireland, Kaew Pogprayoon of Thailand and most significantly Zou Shiming of China, it was Zhakypov's time to lord it over the light flyweight category.
Zhakypov won the light flyweight bronze medal at the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Mianyang, China. He qualified for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he beat P?l Bed?k of Hungary and Hovhannes Danielyan of Armenia before losing to top favorite Chinese Zou, 4-9.
At the 2010 Asian Games he beat South Korean Shin Jong-Hun before losing in the final to Zou.
At the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan he lost his first fight to a Cuban. He later qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London, beating French J?r?my Beccu and our very own Mark Anthony Barriga before losing again to eventual gold medalist Zou.
His win over Barriga was marred by controversy as Barriga was deducted two points by the referee for wrestling which enabled Zhakypov to win narrowly 17-16 and a heart-breaking loss for the Philippines.
That time Barriga was leading in round two, 10-8, when he was the more aggressive fighter. But Lady Luck just frowned on Barriga and the unfortunate deduction in round three cost him the bout and quest for the first Philippine Olympic gold and gave the Kazakh the victory. In the quarterfinals, Zhakypov lost to Zou, 10-13, with a late onslaught by the Chinese champion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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