Opening session 08-12-2009

An enthralling light-heavyweight contest between Abdelhafid Benchabla of Africa, No. 2 on the AIBA World Rankings, and Rizvan Alimuradov representing Europe 1 finally went the way of the stronger Russian in the opening session of the 2009 AIBA President's Cup in Baku today.

Pic: Algerian boxer Benchabla couldn't hold his weight at his first bout

The brand new Serhedchi Olympic Sport Complex, staging a major event for the very first time, opened its doors to a knowledgeable and enthusiastic Azerbaijani public who were out in force, primarily in support of the two European teams. And with six boxers from Azerbaijan involved in the tournament they did not have long to wait to see one of the local favourites in action.

Lightweight Ismet Eynullayev, like his brother Sadiq (64kg) representing Europe 1, was up against World Series of Boxing star Everton Lopez of Brazil in the fourth bout of the session. Roared on by an excited crowd, the young Azeri won a close contest 7:4 but Lopez was given a generous hand by the same supporters.

After Redouane Bouchtouk of Morocco (48kg) had got the African Confederation off to a flying start by winning the first bout of the day against Radik Zagitov of Europe 2, Benchabla was looking to add another three points to his team's tally but Alimuradov had other plans. After going behind 2:1 at the end of the first round, Alimuradov turned things around completely in the second and took a 10:6 lead.

Going forward constantly and dictating the bout to his more illustrious opponent, the Russian southpaw frustrated the Algerian and prevented him from using his superior speed and skill. Benchabla had to work so hard to score a point in the last round that his attempt at a comeback was to no avail and he visibly tired before the bell.

There was drama at the end of the very last bout of the session as Oleksandr Usyk of Europe 1, a bronze medalist at the AIBA World Championships in Milan this year and a strong favourite for the heavyweight crown here, was held to a 1:1 draw by Rafael Lima of America 1. The judges' accepted scores were also tied at 4:4 and so it was only on the judges' individual scores that the Ukrainian finally prevailed over his Brazilian opponent, 4:1.

Second Session

The second session of the 2009 AIBA President's Cup in Baku got off to a cracking start at the Serhedchi Olympic Sport Complex in Baku this evening as Miguel Luis Diaz of America 2, 48kg bronze medalist at the AIBA World Youth Championships 2008, got the better of Asia's Nanao Thokchom Singh, who won gold at the same event.

Another healthy crowd witnessed a wonderful Opening Ceremony, featuring some spectacular Azerbaijani folk dancing and singing before Diaz, from the Dominican Republic, opened proceedings in the ring. Coming forward from the start, throwing punches from all angles, he drew warm applause from the crowd. Both Diaz and his Indian opponent throw "heavy punches" for such light athletes and it made for quite a spectacle but Diaz proved his worth on the day, winning 8:5.

At 60kg AIBA World Championship silver medalist José Pedraza of Puerto Rico, representing America 1, was too smart and too disciplined for Mongolia's Asian champion Enkhzorig Zorigtbaatar and the result, a tactical victory for Pedraza, was the same as when the pair met in the early rounds of the world championships. In the lightweight semi-finals Pedraza will run into the Russian Semen Grivachev of Europe 2, who gave an exemplary exhibition of hooking to dispose of Africa's Abdelkader Chadi of Algeria.

Myke Carvalho of America 1 and Brazil ran out a surprisingly comfortable winner over a second Mongolian, Munkh-Erdene Uranchimeg who was competing for Asia 2 at light-welterweight, and he will now meet Azerbaijan's Sadiq Eynullaev who emulated his brother's achievement in the previous session by winning his opening bout for Europe 1, against Louis Richarno Colin of Mauritius and Africa.

Probably the most eagerly anticipated match-up of the evening came at 81kg where Abdelkader Bouhenia of Europe 2, bronze medalist at the AIBA World Championships, met Olympic bronze medalist Yerkebulan Shynaliyev of Kazakhstan. The Asian took a 2-1 first-round lead over his taller opponent, but the Frenchman came storming out for the second round, nearly knocking Shynaliyev off his feet before gradually asserting himself with heavier punches for a well-merited 9:5 win.