According to a press release by AIBA, the men’s finals of the 58th edition of Belgrade Winner Tournament concluded in the capital city of Serbia. The tournament made a comeback to the boxing map after a break of two years and the local hero Vakhid Abasov clinched the title of the welterweight (69kg) along with the Best Men’s Boxer Award.
AIBA Men’s Elite World Boxing Championships at the end of this year will also be hosted by Belgrade. A total of 35 countries from 4 Confederations sent 208 boxers to the event which traditionally takes place in April every year.
European U22 champion Vakhid Abasov clinched the gold for Serbia defeating Russia’s Alisa Sharifov whereas Saken Bibossynov (52 kg) and Yertugan Zeinulinov (63 kgs) bagged the gold medal for Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's strong contingent bagged two golds, two silvers and three bronze medals in the men's category. Saken Bibossynov met Kyrgyzstan’s Azat Usenaliev in a unique rematch and triumphed in the contest with a brilliant performance. Yertugan Zeinulinov defeated Russia's Artur Subkhankulov in the final.
British boxers Benjamin Whittaker (81 kg) and Frazer Clarke (+91 kg) bagged awards in the event. Whittaker, along with winning the title in light heavyweight category defeating Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Oralbay, also won the Best Technician Award. His compatriot super heavyweight Clarke earned the Best Foreign Boxer Trophy in Belgrade, after his victory over Russia’s Maksim Babanin.
List of the men’s gold medallist in the Belgrade Winner Tournament
52 kg: Saken Bibossynov, Kazakhstan
57 kg: Daniel Asenov, Bulgaria
63 kg: Yertugan Zeinulinov, Kazakhstan
69 kg: Vakhid Abasov, Serbia
75 kg: Nikita Voronov, Russia
81 kg: Benjamin Whittaker, England
91 kg: Timur Gamzatov, Russia
+91 kg: Frazer Clarke, England
