The quarter-final matches of the traditional international tournament "Strandja," taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria, have begun, and the first fights of this stage have presented interesting moments to boxing fans of Uzbekistan. Some of our representatives who entered the ring went to the next stage without leaving any chance for their opponents, while some of our athletes didn't fully succeed this time. Nevertheless, in the very first program of the day, the fighting spirit and high potential of our team were once again demonstrated.
In the quarterfinals, Asilbek Jalilov took first place in the -50 kg weight category. He faced Georgia's Goga Topuriya. During the match, Jalilov acted confidently, calmly, and very accurately. He kept the fight under control from beginning to end, practically demonstrating a "master class" to his opponent. The Uzbek boxer, who maintained dominance in each round, ultimately won with an absolute advantage of 5:0. This result clearly demonstrated not only his high preparedness but also that he participated in the tournament with a serious goal.
The fight between Abdulloh Madaminov, who was supposed to compete in the -65 kg weight category, and Brazilian Yuri Reis, unfortunately, did not take place. It was reported that our boxer was unable to enter the ring due to an injury sustained in the quarter-final match. Thus, Madaminov was forced to end his participation in the competition at this stage. Of course, this is unpleasant news for both the fans and the team. Because even better results were expected from him. Such cases occur in sports, but the most important thing is the boxer's health and full recovery.
In the -55 kg weight category, Samandar Olimov entered the ring for a spot in the semi-finals against the representative of the USA, Lorenzo Patrício. During the match, Samandar performed well and actively, and in some episodes showed serious resistance to his opponent. He tried to conduct a technical and strong-willed fight. However, in the end, the judges awarded the points to the American boxer. Thus, Olimov lost his chance to reach the semi-finals this time. Despite the defeat, his persistence in the ring and his fight to the end are noteworthy.
In the -70 kg weight category, Shavkatjon Boltayev once again demonstrated his strength. Our boxer, who showed a very bright and impressive fight in the quarterfinals, faced England's Patrick Hewitt in the quarterfinals. This match wasn't expected to be easy either, as the opponent was also considered one of the serious trials. But Boltayev left no room for doubt this time either. He led the fight at a high tempo, didn't let go of the initiative, and kept his opponent under full pressure. As a result, the match ended with a score of 5:0, and Shavkatjon confidently advanced to the semi-finals. This victory can be considered one of his most brilliant performances in the tournament.
Thus, in the first program of the day, the Uzbekistan boxing team achieved mixed, but promising results. Asilbek Jalilov and Shavkatjon Boltayev delighted the fans with convincing victories, while Samandar Olimov bid farewell to the competition after a controversial and difficult fight. Abdulloh Madaminov was unable to play due to injury. This once again showed that not only skill, but also physical fitness and luck play an important role in sports.
We remind you that there are also the second program fights of the day ahead. In it, a number of our compatriots will enter the ring for a place in the next round. So, Uzbek boxing fans are still waiting for interesting, intense, and exciting moments.
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