Russians are first to semis, defeating Ukraine
In a match that drew global interest, the Russian Boxing Team overwhelmed the World Series of Boxing (WSB) Season III finalists, the Ukraine Otamans 8-2 on aggregate across two legs of competition.
It was a bitter pill for the Ukrainian stars to swallow, but there was an exceptional level of sportsmanship shown across the two legs by all athletes and both Franchises, showing that sport truly can transcend everything, and that the Olympic ideals are deeply rooted in the sport of boxing.
Bout of the match
Ukraine’s Pavlo Ishchenko took on the dangerous Russian southpaw Dmitriy Polyanskiy at Lightweight. Peculiarly, Ishchenko seemed to be wearing a single long sock on his left leg and no sock at all on his right, but this didn’t seem to negatively impact on his boxing.
The 2012 Olympian put in a performance that was full of flair. His willingness to mix dancing with an ability to stand and scrap made him a difficult opponent to unpick. Ishchenko’s work rate was laudable early on, yet as the bout drew on, the hard hitting Russian began to make his presence felt.
Polyanskiy took the bout by the scruff of the neck for a few rounds and then came into the final round dead even. In the end, the momentum remained with the Russian. But this is a bout that is worth watching again on AIBAboxingTV.com.
Boxer of the match
Russia’s Alexander Besputin went toe to toe with Taras Golovaschenko of the Otamans. It became clear very quickly that the shorter Besputin had the hardest punch and knockout power. The question was almost immediately on everyone’s lips: will the taller Ukrainian be able to keep him out at range?
In his favour, the Otamans’ boxer was able to switch stances at will, which helped in dealing with the southpaw Russian. However, after a serious battle it was Besputin that took the bout and thus the entire match for Russia to send them through to the semi-finals. Being the key-man is enough in this case to earn him boxer of the match.
The turning point
Oleksandr Ganzulia of the Otamans came into the ring against Russia’s Eduard Yakushev, knowing that his team was out of the competition already. At that point, winning the home leg was at least still possible. The Russian was a clever, if slightly overconfident boxer with an ability to switch hit.
Ganzulia came into the bout with a 2-1 record and showed a very quick right hand on several occasions; often in fact he chose to lead with it. In a replay of the storyboard above, the Ukrainian dominated early on but began to come off the boil as the fight wore on.
With Ganzulia fading fast, by the final round they were all even. At least in points. In reality the Ukrainian was by this stage so tired that he did well to make it out for the last round. He took two eight counts in the fifth and was in many ways saved by the bell. The Russian win, put even the compensation prize of winning the home bout beyond the Otamans.
Fact/Stat of the match
With the Otamans dominating Group A for much of the season, and the Russians only finishing third in Group B, more weight has been added to the theory that the Group B teams that survived what was undoubtedly the toughest group phase in WSB history, have emerged into the Playoffs as far stronger teams than those in Group A. Will that theory continue to hold water as the weekend progresses?
Quote of the match
“Eduard Yakushev is throwing shots that are hitting Oleksandr Ganzulia like the Hadron collider” – Will Vanders, WSB Commentator
Wrap up
Iegor Plevako and Maxim Babanin had an impressive exchange at Super Heavyweight. The Russian Babanin dropped his Ukrainian opponent in the second round for an eight count. Plevako recovered admirably but was back under pressure in the third. Following a cut, the Russian took the bout. It was an unfortunate stoppage, but a deserved win.
Azat Usenaliev of the Ukraine Otamans and Bakhtovar Nazirov had a very competitive bout at Flyweight. The two orthodox boxers worked extremely hard across the five rounds and it remained extremely close throughout the contest. The crispness dropped off the bout in the last two rounds but the effort levels did not. Coming into the final round, there was only one point in it. The Otamans’ boxer kept his cool and used his mobility to dominate the last round to take the bout.
Coming up next
The Otamans are now out of the competition but Russia become the first team to advance to the semi-finals. Their opponents will be determined tomorrow (1st leg) and on the 12th of April (2nd leg) in a highly anticipated match between the USA Knockouts and Cuba Domadores.
Cuba Domadores vs. USA Knockouts
Arguably one of the most highly anticipated matches in WSB history, this mouth-watering encounter will doubtless have boxing fans drooling. One American boxer failed to make weight which will make life increasingly difficult for the Knockouts. If they weren’t already the underdogs in this encounter, then they certainly are now with a 1-0 disadvantage. However, the American can-do spirit dies hard.
Gabriel Maestre and Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo will probably be the pick of the bunch at Welterweight. This is a category in which the WSB seems to be producing a glut of incredibly accomplished pugilists. Maestre has been very impressive in the last six months, with an outstanding performance at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Almaty 2013 and an unbeaten debut season so far in the WSB.
Meanwhile 2012 London Olympic Champion Iglesias Sotolongo (who incredibly is not the Cuban first pick, which just shows how strong the competition in the category is), has also gone to 2-0 in the WSB. One will remain unbeaten. The other will taste defeat for the first time. But which will be which?
There is also an interesting match-up at Super Heavyweight (91+kg) between Swedish boxing star Mohamed Sallah who is fighting for the Knockouts and is unbeaten in the WSB (2-0) and Cuba’s Yoandi Toirac (1-1). The 19 year old Toirac has impressed, winning his WSB debut by TKO, but struggling against Russia’s experienced Maxim Babanin. Sallah could be one of the USA’s top hopes for an away victory, yet on the other hand Toirac is developing at such a pace that things will not be easy for the big Swede.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan vs. Team Germany (1st leg score 3-2)
The Germans put on a very spirited display against the defending champions in their home leg and that makes this one of the most open quarter-finals of the weekend on paper. A repeat of the score-line in Kazakhstan’s favour however would see the “Alpha Wolves” progress at the expense of the Eagles.
At Welterweight, Vjaceslav Kerber (2-1) could surprise for the Germans, he has had a good season to date, winning both his bouts. His opponent Meirim Nursultanov has had more mixed results on his debut season and stands at 1-1.
The bouts of the night however should be those at the heavy-end of the spectrum. Super Heavyweights Ruslan Mursatayev (12-5) and double World bronze medallist Erik Pfeifer (5-0) should put on a good show for the crowd in Almaty, so too should Light Heavyweights Hrvoje Sep (14-6) and Serge Michel (4-3). Michel has lost to Sep before in Week 5 of last season’s. At 25, he will have undoubtedly improved in the last 14 months, but will the desire for revenge outweigh the fear of a repeat performance? Only time will tell.
Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder vs. Azerbaijan Baku Fires (1st leg score 0-5)
After a deeply disappointing first leg performance which included a shock first round knockout of Italian Heavyweight (91kg) World Champion Clemente Russo, Italia Thunder fans are left needing a miracle to progress to the semi-finals. Failure to do so though would mark the first time in three years that the Season II winners have not made it to that stage of the competition, and with the embracement of riches in the depth and quality of their squad this year, that would be quite a statement by their opponents, the WSB “Bad Boys”, the Baku Fires.
History is on Italy’s side for this as a stand-alone leg. They are the only team to have gone unbeaten at home over four years, but a 3-2 win will not be enough overall this weekend, they will need to score a perfect 5-0 to take this match into a tiebreaker and that will be tough.
The Thunder will look to Welsh whiz kid Andrew Selby to set them off on the right foot at Flyweight (52kg). Still unbeaten over two seasons and eight bouts in the WSB, the current World bronze medallist and European Champion looks the better boxer on paper in comparison to his opponent Elvin Mamishzada who is 3-1, but was still good enough to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games and to take a silver in the 2010 European Championships.
Given that a single loss would end it for the Thunder, potential areas where they could slip up are at Super Heavyweight where Fires boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov is on an awesome run this season. Welterweight Mahamed Nurudzinau is now 7-3 across four seasons and has wins against the likes of Ireland’s Conrad Cummings on his CV. His opponent Vincenzo Mangiacapre (5-1), although an Olympic bronze medallist, has less ring time in the WSB and has lost one of his three outings this season. Can the Thunder find the class to scrape through or will the Fires burn down the house in Italy?
