The IBA 2025 Boxing World Championships served up a packed day of semi-final drama as emerging stars and seasoned contenders punched their way into a diverse slate of finals across the weight spectrum.
Russia’s Edmond Khudoian opened the programme in style, showcasing slick switch-hitting and relentless pressure to dispatch Kazakhstan’s Temirtas Zhussupov 5-0 at minimumweight (48kg).
The top seed’s angles and activity proved too much for the veteran Kazakh. He will face Azerbaijan’s Subhan Mamedov, who eased past a cautious Sakhil Alakhverdovi of Georgia, also by unanimous decision.
At 54kg, Russia’s 19-year-old sensation Viacheslav Rogozin continued his surge with a composed win over Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Zhalilov, whose antics and holding could not disrupt the Russian’s rhythm. Rogozin now meets Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov, who neutralised Nepal’s all-action Chandra Bahadur Thapa by using savvy footwork and sharp timing.
The lightweight (60kg) division set up a mouthwatering final as Uzbek standout Abdumalik Khalokov put on a boxing masterclass against Armenia’s Artur Bazeyan before celebrating with a trademark backflip. He faces Russia’s Vsevolod Shumkov, who controlled Tajikistan’s Akmal Ubaidov in a bruising bout marked by fierce exchanges and cuts.
In the 67kg bracket, Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev survived a first-round knockdown from Moldova’s Alexandru Paraschiv before roaring back to dominate the next two rounds. Russia’s Evgeny Kool joined him in the final after edging Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov via bout review, blending mobility and pressure in a tactical affair.
Kazakhstan’s Sabirzhan Akkalykov progressed at middleweight (75kg) via walkover after Fazliddin Erkinboev withdrew with a hand injury. He meets Russia’s Ismail Mutsolgov, who boxed smartly to blunt the aggression of Mali’s Djibril Traore.
Russia closed the afternoon strongly as cruiserweight specialist Sharabutdin Ataev outboxed Georgia’s Georgii Kushitashvili, and Belarus’ Aliaksei Alfiorau produced a dramatic first-round stoppage of Armenia’s Rafayel Hovhannisyan with a perfectly timed left hand.
The night session began with a reminder of Hasanboy Dusmatov’s enduring class. The Uzbek maestro overcame Armenia’s tall, tidy Rudolf Garboyan with movement, precision, and ring IQ, setting up a 51kg final against Russia’s dynamic southpaw Bair Batlaev, who outpaced Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba despite the latter’s strong second-round surge.
Kazakhstan’s Orazbek Assykulov punched his ticket to the 57kg final with a disciplined win over Russia’s Andrei Peglivanian, before Tajikistan’s Khusravkhon Rakhimov joined him by controlling Uzbekistan’s Khujanazar Nortojiev through deft timing and cleaner work.
In the light-welterweight (63.5kg) division, Kyrgyzstan’s Omar Livaza impressed with sharp body work and movement to beat Zambia’s Emmanuel Katema. Russia’s Ilia Popov then edged Kazakhstan’s Yertugan Zeinulinov in one of the evening’s closest bouts – a match that required a bout review after momentum swung dramatically in the final round.
Russia continued to stockpile finalists as Sergei Koldenkov bullied Turkmenistan’s Bayramdurdy Nurmukhammedov at 71kg, while Kazakhstan’s Ablaikhan Zhussupov beat Ikhtiar Nishonov in a fiery contest punctuated by showboating and power shots.
At 80kg, Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Ummataliev delivered a breakthrough performance to outwit Cuban veteran Arlen Lopez, before Russia’s Dzhambulat Bizhamov boxed conservatively but effectively to turn back Spain’s Gasimagomed Jalidov.
The heavyweights provided a suitably explosive closing act. Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev methodically outpointed Azerbaijan’s Loren Alfonso at 92kg, while Russia’s Olympic silver medallist Muslim Gadzhimagomedov powered past Spain’s Enmanuel Reyes Pla with trademark pressure and conditioning.
The super-heavyweights then brought raw intensity as Uzbekistan’s Arman Makhanov edged Armenia’s Davit Chaloyan via bout review despite a cut, setting up a final against Russia’s David Surov, who dominated Azerbaijan’s Mahammad Abdullayev with surprising ease.
With finals set across two days, the tournament is shaping into a Russia–Uzbekistan–Kazakhstan showcase and the gold-medal pressure is only just beginning.
