The IBA men's world amateur championships continued in Dubai. Here is a recap of the second day of action: Cuba’s two-time, two-weight Olympic gold medallist Arlen Lopez showed championship resilience in a hard-fought light heavyweight bout against Tokyo Olympian Bayram Malkan (Turkiye). Lopez edged a heated contest by split decision (4–1). Malkan’s unpredictable movement and switch-hitting style tested Lopez throughout before the Cuban’s composure secured victory... At super heavyweight, fellow Cuban Fernando Lopez Arzola asserted his physical dominance against Australia’s Joshua Cercarelli, forcing a first-round stoppage after Cercarelli suffered an ankle injury and was withdrawn... Top-seeded Uzbek welterweight Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev delivered a clinical display against Rashield Williams of the Bahamas, overcoming early pressure and coasting to a unanimous decision despite Williams suffering a bloodied nose in the opening exchanges... Azerbaijan’s teenage standout Subhan Mamedov (Azerbaijan) delivered one of the performances of the day, stopping experienced Filipino professional Joey Canoy with a body-shot assault in round three. Canoy is 24-5-2 as a pro and has fought former champions Nkosinathji Joyi and Hekke Budler... The later session saw Armenian elite boxer Hovhannes Bachkov (8-0 as a pro)advance comfortably with a second-round RSC over Wiseman Mwathe (Kenya).
In the super heavyweight division, Arman Makhanov of Uzbekistan took control of his clash with Christopher Thompson, scoring a decisive final-round knockout after dropping his opponent and forcing a standing eight-count in the earlier phases... Belarus’ composed technician Uladzislau Smiahlikau closed the heavyweight session with a unanimous decision over Kenya’s elusive Clinton Muriithi.
Minimumweight action saw Kobamelo Molatlhegi (Botswana) outclass David Ome (Papua New Guinea), while Nepal’s fleet-footed Lal Prasad Upreti outpointed Ethiopia’s Abel Alemu. Devendra Solanki (India) progressed with a dominant 5–0 win over Ally Ngwando (Tanzania).
Other winners of the day session included:
Cassio Santos Oliveira (Brazil) – UD over Khayelihle Mkhabela (Swaziland);
Sanatali Toltayev (Kazakhstan) – SD over Gerald Kabinda (Zambia);
Talib Jabbar (Iraq) – UD over Muhammad Bin Kauthar (Malaysia);
Nekruz Salimov (Tajikistan) – SD over Anvar Nasredinov (Cambodia); and
Arjan Iseni (North Macedonia) – UD over Deepak Shrestha (Nepal).
The evening session brought further fireworks, with Adriano Kiana (Angola) stopping Harpal Singh (India) in round two by knockout, and Erkin Adylbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) taking a clear unanimous win over Iriatai Raiheui (French Polynesia)... Power punchers dominated late, as Dzhambulat Bizhamov (Russia) halted Tevita Lauhingoa Malupo (Tonga), while impressive stoppage wins also came from Zaur Gahramanov (Azerbaijan), Evgenii Kool (Russia) and Yerassyl Zhakpekov (Kazakhstan).
The session closed in emphatic fashion when Ariitea Putoa (French Polynesia) forced a stoppage victory over Jordilson Luvo (Angola) in the 92+kg class after multiple standing counts.
Ring B delivered relentless action from the opening bell, led by Omurbek Uulu (Kyrgyzstan) who edged a bruising battle with Michail Tsamalidis (Greece) by unanimous decision in a light-heavyweight contest... Highly-rated Uzbek Javokhir Ummataliev showcased composure and class in a unanimous win over Cedrick Belony-Duliepre (Haiti)... At minimumweight, Anvarzhan Khodzhiev (Kyrgyzstan) claimed a hard-earned unanimous decision over Nene Maonga (Zambia) after both fighters suffered facial damage in a brutal final round.
At welterweight, Zakaria Romdhani (Tunisia) scored a round-two stoppage over Sophors Vy (Cambodia) and Bob Turyatemba (Uganda) claimedg a unanimous win against Andrique Allisop (Seychelles).
Other key Ring B winners included:
Jandos Askhar (Mongolia) – UD over Simamkele Damesi (South Africa)
Alexandru Paraschiv (Moldova) – UD over Praveen Kumar (IBN-India)
Daniel Ilyushonok (Israel) – UD over Ricardo Nena (French Polynesia)
Agejev Artjom (Serbia) – SD over Juan Diego Ortiz (IBN-Colombia)
Amir Vandaei (Iran) – SD loss to Iman Raamezanpourdelvar (IBA-PRO)
Muhammad Abroridinov (Tajikistan) – UD over Alexander Kassimov (Germany)
Myrzakir Koshaliev (Kyrgyzstan) – UD over Bikramjeet Singh (IBN-India)
In one of the standout welterweight battles, Vadzim Vauchok (Belarus) edged Shamsher Saidov (Tajikistan) 4–1 after a fierce three-round war.
Further highlight bouts included:
Almaz Orozbekov (Kyrgyzstan) – bout-review win over Bernardo Marime (Mozambique);;
Parviz Karimov (Tajikistan) – UD over Issaka Kimba (Niger);
Artush Hovhannisyan (Armenia) – SD over Brandone Ngon A Ngon (Cameroon);
Yan Zak (Israel) – UD over Jose Dos Santos (Portugal);
Elisandro Sanches Da Silva (Cape Verde Islands) – decision over Kesny Joseph (Sint Maarten);
Zachary Brown (Australia) – UD over Pravesh Kumar (India);
John Didier (St. Lucia) – win over Ofana Moussa (Ivory Coast, disqualified);
Gazimagomed Jalidov (Spain) – stoppage over Abubaker Mutyaba (Uganda);
Javier Delgado Suarez (Ecuador) – UD over Birol Aygun (Turkey);
Ricardo Fresneda (Spain) – round-two stoppage over Israel Nzewi (Cape Verde); and
Dovlet Yslamov (Turkmenistan) – UD over Khali Byeknur (Mongolia).
PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE / DAY ONE
The opening day of the IBA 2025 men’s amateur world championships got underway in Dubai this weekend. Athletes from around the world set the tone for a tournament featuring a record $8.32 million prize pool. In the heavyweight division, Kazakhstan’s Nurmagamed Yussupov dismantled Tajikistan’s Navruz Jafoev in under 30 seconds. Tonga’s Unaloto Havea matched that pace, overwhelming Lebanon’s Abdullah Bou with a first-round barrage that forced a 29-second stoppage. Australia’s Leo Nicolson closed the session in style, flattening Zimbabwe’s Mzobanzi Moyo with a perfectly timed right hand. Germany’s Daniel Lokstein suffered a punishing defeat at the hands of Greece’s Vagkan Nanitzanian, who secured a dominant 5-0 win.
Down the weights, Uzbekistan’s talented light welterweight Sayat Ilyasov outclassed Anas Sleiman, forcing a corner retirement at the end of round two. In a technical light welterweight clash, Russia’s Ilia Popov defeated former Olympian Fiston Mbaya despite a late low blow.
Czech southpaw David Karbas impressed with a first-round body-shot stoppage against Ecuador’s Matias Arosemena, while Mongolia’s Davaadalai Altangerel edged Australia’s Mitchell Lederman via split decision.
Armenia’s Ararat Harutyunyan overpowered Indonesia’s Alfino Caesar, earning two eight-counts on the way to victory. Sri Lanka’s Mohommed Usaith boxed smartly to defeat Rwanda’s Innocent Mugenga, and Greek pressure fighter Stelios Kirsanidis advanced by unanimous verdict against Swaziland’s Thabiso Dlamini.
Ethiopia’s Zekerya Dawd and Kenya’s Hassan Bakari opened the Ring B action with a spirited bantamweight battle, with Bakari’s accuracy earning a unanimous win. Tajikistan’s Anushervon Fazylov produced a composed performance to defeat Mozambique’s Paulo Banguine.
Rwanda’s Pacifique Niyonzima neutralized the experience of Zimbabwe’s Nyongoloza Ntandoyenkosi to secure a unanimous decision. In a contentious bout, Luxembourg-based Michael Likalu edged Palestine’s Qasim Abudabaa‘t in a split decision after a controversial first-round standing count.
Seychelles’ Joshua Cousin blasted out Tanzania’s Methew Kasilika in under 30 seconds in one of the day’s fastest stoppages. Israel’s Miroslav Kapuler-Ishchenko battled through facial damage to defeat Osward Talaka of the Solomon Islands.
There was early success for both England and Scotland. England’s Mehdi Sahak delivered a commanding 5-0 victory over Solomon Islands’ Maximillian Makana, showcasing polished movement and crisp jabs.
Scotland’s 19-year-old Leo Church overcame adversity—including a point deduction for a low blow—to secure a gritty split-decision win over Senegal’s Cheikh Diop. “The prize money is a great opportunity, but for me it’s about performance,” Church said. “It’s good to get that first win out of the way.”
Scotland’s Alan Perrie overcame an early knockdown to defeat Angola’s Avelino Luzito 4-1 in a high-tempo battle. “I’m absolutely buzzing,” Perrie said after securing the win at his first Men’s World Championship. “I love this sport. In a hard fight, I bite down and push through.”
Uzbekistan’s light-heavyweight Javokhir Ummataliev reinforced his status as a medal threat with a clinical 5-0 win. Azerbaijan’s Mahammadali Ashiraliyev was similarly dominant, while Ecuador’s Kevin Mosquera Quintero overpowered American Austin Lenehan at 60kg.
Greece’s Georgios Pleas started strong but ultimately fell to Latvia’s Matvejs Prokudins, who rallied to win 5-0. Mali’s Abdoul Karim Bathily edged a tight 4-3 split decision over Nepal’s Khagendra Roka Magar, and Albania’s Ariol Zeneli earned a decisive win against Thailand’s Thichakorn Srisakul.
India’s Praveen Kumar showcased his skill and patience, dominating Afghanistan’s Yawari Amaun, prompting a towel stoppage. In a dramatic turnaround, Bahamas’ Rashield Williams arrived late for his bout but finished Samoa’s Jason Wulf in the second round.
Later in Ring B, India’s Pravesh Kumar scored a 5-2 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Christopher Luteke in a grueling light-heavyweight clash. Kumar spoke passionately after the bout: “This prize money can be life-changing. Especially for medal winners—gold, silver, bronze. I’m grateful for my team. It’s all about teamwork. Their support gives me strength in the ring.”
Alban Beqiri of Albania battled through a deep cut to claim a split decision over Sweden’s Adolphe Sylva.
Turkey’s Bayram Malkan forced a stoppage after opening a severe cut on Paraguay’s Rody Riquelme.
French Polynesia’s Ricardo Nena outpointed Sri Lanka’s Harassiya Rathnasiri despite a point deduction.
India’s Akash Kachari fell to Argentina’s technically sharp Agustin Veron in their heavyweight opener.
Brazil’s Paiva Brasil and Senegal’s Karamba Kebe each secured important wins.
Argentina’s Thomas Casazza impressed with a wide UD over Greece’s Dimitrios Nikolaou at welterweight.
Tonga’s Tevita Malupo was awarded a KO victory over Sierra Leone’s Tamba Bafor in a controversial finish.
