Boxing WB World Championships 2025

[ChandlerMne 1,202]

Which IBA federations wont compete?

 

[Ogreman 379]

1 hour ago, ChandlerMne said:

Which IBA federations wont compete?

Off the top of my head, Russia obviously, Belarus, Serbia, Armenia, Tajikistan, North Korea and nearly the entire African continent.

 

There are some other major boxing countries like Thailand not competing but I don't think that is IBA related.

[Gianlu33 5,276]

1 hour ago, ChandlerMne said:

Which IBA federations wont compete?

 

In yellow, the IBA members. Among big NOCs are missing

Edited September 5 by Gianlu33

[ChandlerMne 1,202]

Just now, Ogreman said:

Off the top of my head, Russia obviously, Belarus, Serbia, Armenia, Tajikistan, North Korea and nearly the entire African continent.

 

There are some other major boxing countries like Thailand not competing but I don't think that is IBA related.

Serbia in "good" company. 

Geopolitical conditions influencing competitions. Just terrible.

Interesting that Africa follows IBA.

How will Algeria qualify for LA...

They have good boxers but can suffer after this decision.

 

[copravolley 498]

Uzbekistan, which won a significant number of gold medals in Paris, will lose the most from Russia's return. It will also cause confusion because the rankings will be random, and often someone from Russia and Uzbekistan might fight each other earlier. It was similar in Paris, with the two best boxers in the 90 kg category, Abbes (Italy) and Uzbekistan, fighting in the first round (the Italian lost after a controversial decision, but if it had happened in the final, he would have at least won the silver medal, but this time he was left with nothing).

 

 

Overall, the Italian federation screwed up completely in Paris – it's common knowledge that in sports like boxing, judo, and wrestling, lobbying and pressure over judges are key. Most of these verdicts could have gone on other side. Because of this, we lost about 5 medals in judo and boxing alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 5 by copravolley

[intoronto 6,387]

[Ogreman 379]

Predictions Part 4 (M50kg, M90+kg)

 

 

I know I know, I am really dragging this out amn't I.

 

M50kg

 

This is one of the more interesting weightclasses. It does feel a bit more like 48kg used to than the old flyweight division but there is a fair bit of talent here

 

Bracket 1

 

So I thought Alejandro Claro (2)  deserved to win his quarter final at the Olympics against Bilal Bennama  and even though he didn’t medal he had a good Olympics which is interesting because I didn’t rate him that highly going in so I’m really not sure whether he will win gold here or miss out on a medal. He fights the feisty Istvan Szaka (14)  in the last 16.

The other side of this bracket sees a couple of interesting fights with European champion Samet Gumus (5)  has a tricky opening fight against Anvar Kodzhiev (9)  before meeting a promising up and comer in Subhan Mamedov (7) . You would to trust Gumus to come through which would set up a quarter final against Claro. Both are good boxers but I think I believe in Claro slightly more.

 

Bracket 2

 

Right so Sanzhar Tashkenbay (1)  is the current world champion at 48kg and as such I guess is sort of the reigning champion here. He meets either European under 23 champion Louis Rooney (13)  or the aggressive Huthaifa Eshish (10)  which was not the draw I was hoping Rooney would get. Rooney and Tashkenbay did meet at Strandja but Tashkenbay dislocated his shoulder halfway through the first round. The other side of the bracket should see the impressive but tiny Jadumani Singh (8)  beat either Salvatore Attrattivo (16)  or Reece Readshaw (18) . I am curious about how well Rooney and Singh perform but its hard to look past Tashkenbay here.

 

 

Bracket 3

 

Shodiyorjon Melikuziev (4)  is the reigning Asian champion including beating Tashkenbay in the final. He is rapidly quick but a bit rugged. He only has Omer Izaz (20)  between him and a quarter final. The other side of this bracket sees 2023 world medallist Sakhil Alekverdovi (11)  meet Scott Richards (19)  before meeting the inexperienced Soushi Makino (3) . I was very impressed by Makino this year but I think I will back the safer pick of Melikuziev to medal.

 

Bracket 4

 

This final bracket is fairly open, Martin Molina (15)  was European champion in 2022 and medalled at the worlds in 2023 but his recent form is pathetic. He meets Ergunyal Sebahtin (12)  first up who has medalled at European level but his success only came at 48kg and he struggled whenever he had to move to 51 so it will be interesting how he goes at this new division. The winner meets Astana world cup silver medallist Jay Bryan Baricuatro (6)  who is quite rangy and picks some good punches.

Aldarkhishig Battulga (17)  is the pick of the other side of this bracket is too inconsistent to medal. Baricuatro to medal.

 

Medals-

 

Gold- Sanzhar Tashkenbay , Silver- Shodiyorjon Melikuziev , Bronze-  Alejandro Claro , Jay Bryan Baricuatro .

 

These medal fights are by no means a sure bet. Melikuziev has met Baricuatro 3 times winning twice so that one could go either way. I really amn’t sure whether to pick Tashkenbay or Claro. They should have met in the world final in 2023 but Claro withdrew ahead of his semi-final. Then there is Melikuziev and Tashkenbay which has gone Tashkenbay way more often than not but Melikuziev won the most recent matchup.

Tashkenbay better not let me down now.

 

 

 

M90+kg

 

 

Super heavyweight is always difficult to predict especially now that Bakhodir Jalolov  is gone. I am impressed by the number of entries though, Superheavyweight getting the 6^th most entries is certainly surprising but look I’m not complaining.

 

Bracket 1

 

Ok so this one is tricky. I do expect Martin McDonagh (7)  to beat Narendar (12)  which would set a fascinating fight against Diego Lenzi (4) . There is quite a bit of a size difference between the two with McDonagh being a giant and Lenzi being one of the smaller super Heavyweights, He does pack a serious punch though Lenzi. I am kind of quietly confident in McDonagh here but Lenzi has had a good season so he is the slight favourite. The other side of the bracket sees world bronze medallist Danabieke Bayikewuzi (6)  meet Yordan Hernandez (11)  followed by Kelvin Watts (17)  who I have not really been convinced by. Bayikewuzi wasn’t the unluckiest boxer during the Olympic qualifiers with the same cut above his eye costing him at both of the world Olympic qualifiers. That said I think Lenzi is the type of boxer that would beat so with only a limited degree of confidence I will pick Lenzi here.

 

Bracket 2

 

Ok so one of this bracket sees two Olympians in Dmytro Lovchynskyi (9)  and Omar Shiha (18)  with the winner likely facing former European medallist Ahmed Hagag (15) . My assumption would be that Lovchynskyi should come through here. The other side of this bracket should see a cracking fight between the heir to Jalolov Jakhongir Zokirov (3)  and Astana world cup silver medallist Nikita Putilov (5) . Putilov nearly got picked over eventual Olympic medallist Nelvie Tiafack  so he should not be underestimated. All that said I have seen enough from Zokirov to trust him here. Putilov is a big challenge though.

 

Bracket 3

 

Ok some interesting fights here. Obviously the big name is Julio Cesar la Cruz (2)  who seems to be sticking around for another Olympic cycle despite the last one not going great. I don’t think his form was that bad, I mean he clearly has lost a step and isn’t anywhere near the dominant boxer he used to be but I do still think he is  a major threat to the medals at these tournaments. Like I think it was the right decision but his fight against Loren Alfonso  at the Olympics could have gone the other way and if it had like Alfonso made the final who is to say La Cruz wouldn’t have made it equally as far or even won.

All that said I would be worried that he is just too small at super heavyweight. His path is an interesting one here meeting 2021 world medallist Mahammad Abdullayev (8)  before likely facing world youth medallist Amir Esmaeili Vandaei (20) .

The other half of this bracket sees IBA Asian under 22 champion Myrzakir Koshaliev (16)  meet 2022 world youth medallist Damar Thomas (10) . Thomas looks the part of a good boxer but his results don’t really back that up at least not yet. The winner would face Joel da Silva (13) and really any of those 3 could come through there. I think I would pick the home boxer in Thomas but I am currently struggling to not see la Cruz medalling here.

 

Bracket 4

 

Aibek Oralbay (1)  has been pretty dominant this year since moving up to super heavyweight. His path to the medals involves Mucahit Ilyas (22)  and then either Luka Pratljacic (14)  or European under 23 silver medallist Stylianos Roulias (19) . I would narrowly lean towards Pratljacic there but neither are troubling Oralbay.

 

Medals-

 

Gold- Aibek Oralbay , Silver- Jakhongir Zokirov , Bronze-  Julio Cesar la Cruz , Diego Lenzi .

 

While I am brave enough to pick la Cruz, I’m not brave enough to expect him to go further. Zokirov beating Lenzi seems a safe bet. That leaves Oralbay and Zokirov who have met twice over the last 12 months with one win apiece. I am not sure Zokirov is quite at his best yet so I think I will pick the more experienced Oralbay.

[copravolley 498]

If Lenzi doesn't win at least a bronze medal here, it means that, he's not made for this sport and have no chance in 2028 on OG. The truth is, however, that Lenzi isn't a phenomenon, just an solid fighter with a chance occacasionally of something more, like bronze.

But we know, that he'll never win Olympic gold or World Championship gold. And it hurts greatly that we're cutting out Abbes Mouhiidine, the only Italian with gold medal potential (even if he occasionally loses by knockout or due to poor refereeing). The rest of the Italian team is weak and doesn't promise any success.

Edited September 5 by copravolley

[copravolley 498]

On 9/4/2025 at 3:26 PM, Illya said:

Wow, I forgot that the boxing is rigged sport in terms of judging, ain't no way Zakhareiev lost this bought with 0 won judges, when in the third round opponent did nothing, and second also was more on Yurii's side. But I guess if judges are from AIBA, this cycle Ukraine will have 1 boxer in total and this is Khyzhniak

Khyzniak come to professional world? Don't complain, because Khyzniak did win gold in Paris, and our Abbes was robbed in the 1st round by the Uzbek (some people of referee), who as a country had very good contacts with the judges, watched by their results there.

Edited September 5 by copravolley

[copravolley 498]

Abbes said in an interview after the Paris Games that Russia also probably apparently lobbied with the Uzbeks in Paris. According to Abbes, Russia wanted to show that: "we're not here, but people like us are winning anyway: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, etc". And most of the judges there were from the former IBA, so Russia had a huge influence there. In Khyzniak's case, this would probably be too loud and too political to rob him of his gold (Zelensky and the Ukrainian authorities would certainly make a speak and I think that's the right thing to do. We don't care about our people; the our officials keep usually quiet and our man at the IOC: Giovanni Malago, can't get anything done, he just sits quietly and pretends to be a diplomat). Sometimes, when you're being robbed again, you have to speak up and raise your head, instead of staying silent, because they'll humiliate you further).

Edited September 5 by copravolley