2019 Combat Sports Awards, Part 3: Amateur Boxing
Happy New Year everyone! As you may have noticed, the Fight Site staff have been hard at work over the Christmas period coming up with our respective end-of-year award lists. Being the only member of the team who covers amateur boxing, I wanted to write my own article looking at the standout performers this year as well as across the decade. Competition for awards was fierce, in large part due to the number of exceptional fighters who competed this year, so I’ve included a few ‘honourable mentions’ in some categories out of respect for the achievements of those who still had a strong year. With that being said, let’s dive in.
Amateur Boxer Of The Year
Amateur Boxer of the Year - Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov
Honourable mentions: Andy Cruz Gomez, Bakhodir Jalolov
Out of all of the categories, ‘Amateur Boxer of the Year’ was one of the hardest to decide on. We’ve seen some great runs in 2019, but for me, it was always going to come down to two men; Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov and Andy Cruz. There really wasn’t much to separate these two, with both claiming gold at the AIBA World Championships at 57kg and 63kg respectively. Mirzakhalilov also triumphed in the Asian Championships, as did Cruz at the Pan-Ams. I’ve based my pick off of who beat the better opposition, and Cruz has a compelling case with his three wins over Keyshawn Davis. Davis has looked brilliant in 2019 and proved to be a class above the rest of the talent-laden 63kg division (more on that later), so for Cruz to beat him three times in a year is a very impressive feat. Their budding rivalry reminds me of Cuban great Ángel Herrera Vera’s duels with a young Pernell Whittaker, and a showdown in Tokyo next year is one of the most eagerly awaited matchups in amateur boxing.
But ultimately, I chose Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov. Whilst Cruz beat experienced veterans in Zakir Safiullin and #5 Ilya Popov, he benefitted from a relatively easy bracket on his side of the draw. In contrast, Mirzakhalilov had to beat the #2, #3 and #1 seeds in order to claim his maiden world title. The Uzbek overcame 2017 bantamweight World Champion Kairat Yeraliyev in the quarters, before out-slugging 2019 Asian Champion Erdenebat Tsendbataar in a gripping semi-final. Whilst Mirzakhalilov’s victory over three-time lightweight World Champion Lazaro Alvarez came to a premature end due to a cut (you can read more about this in my article breaking down the featherweight division), the win over Álvarez completed a stellar run for Mirzakhalilov against the division’s elite. The fact that Mirzakhalilov beat a murderer’s row of opponents, who all posed different stylistic challenges, gives him the edge in my FOTY race.
Another reason why I picked Mirzakhalilov was the quality of his domestic opposition being stronger than that of Andy Cruz. Whilst Cuba has historically been the dominant force in amateur boxing, Uzbekistan has established itself as the premier amateur system this year with places on the national team being fiercely competitive. Mirzakhalilov had to overcome the tough Abdulhay Shorahmatov in order to secure his spot on the Uzbekistan team, whereas Cruz has lacked a strong domestic opponent since Kevin Hayler Brown’s move to welterweight.
Here’s what I had to say on the newly crowned amateur boxer of the year from a previous article:
What immediately strikes me when watching Mirzakhalilov is the variety of his combinations, subtle use of angles in order to land offence, timing when countering an opponent and his supreme physical fitness. As demonstrated in the Tsendbaatar fight which is featured below, Mirzakhalilov is at his best when he can fire quick combinations at mid-range which incorporate multiple uppercuts, hooks and straight shots. He is skilled at manipulating an opponent’s guard, employing the use of hooks to create space for a right hand down the middle, and can adjust his shot selection mid-combination in response to how an opponent reacts. The Uzbek is a fine counterpuncher too, typically covering up behind an effective tight guard before timing his opponent mid-combination and exploding into a counter. Mirzakhalilov is more flat-footed than his countryman Zoirov, but is still skilled in moving out of range to avoid incoming fire as well as turning his opponent for both attacking and defensive purposes. When the Uzbek does move his head at mid-range, it’s typically to find new angles in order to land his shots which is another effective layer of his offensive arsenal.
Fight Of The Year
Fight of the Year - Nurdauletov vs. La Cruz
Honourable mentions: Mirzakhalilov-Tsendbataar, Marcial-Angulo
Like the previous category, ‘Fight of the Year’ was a tough choice between two outstanding contenders - Nurdauletov’s upset victory over reigning World Champion Julio César La Cruz, and Mirzakhalilov’s thrilling war with Erdenebat Tsendbataar. Whilst the latter was an all-action affair that was both high-level and fun as hell, Nurdauletov-La Cruz was the defining fight of the World Championships for me. Nothing else this year compares in terms of drama, story and intrigue, which is why I’ve picked it as my FOTY.
Nurdauletov, the unseeded 21 year-old fighter hailing from Kazakhstan, who was largely ignored as a serious title contender. Julio César La Cruz, the dazzling Cuban master who was searching for his fifth consecutive World Championship crown. It was the classic underdog story, old guard meets young upstart, and promised to be a gripping semi-final.
Boy, did it deliver.
Nurdauletov came out with clear intent, throwing hard southpaw jabs and lead lefts to the body to set the tone. La Cruz responded by fighting in his trademark style, keeping his hands low and dancing around the ring as he raided Nurdauletov with jabs and lead rights. The Kazakh was having success of his own though, foreshadowing what was to come when he caught La Cruz with some sharp 1-2’s. Although I didn’t have him winning the first round, Nurdauletov had made an early statement - he wasn’t going to be another light touch for La Cruz.
Then early in the second round, the decisive moment came. With La Cruz standing in front of his opponent near the ropes, Nurdauletov made an adjustment to his approach; in the first round he committed to both shots when he threw quick 1-2’s, which allowed La Cruz to nail down his timing. But this time, Nurdauletov feinted the jab before throwing a straight left hand, which reached its target faster than La Cruz was expecting. The Cuban’s legs buckled as he staggered back into the ropes, with the referee immediately starting an 8 count. Whilst he wasn’t hurt, the resulting 10-8 round meant that he was now at a deficit on the cards and would have to be flawless in order to win the bout. La Cruz continued to float across the ring, showing off his silky skills and movement with the kind of swagger that would indicate he was in complete control. Nurdauletov was still finding a home for that southpaw left though, setting it up with lead foot feints as well as parrying La Cruz’s jab with his right hand to create a pathway for the shot. I thought the Cuban did well for the rest of the round - slipping shots and countering with accurate left hooks and lead rights - but he was down 19-18 on my card heading into the crucial third.
If I had a category for ‘Round of the Year’, then the third round of Nurdauletov-La Cruz would take it. Hell, it might even be my best round of the decade. Here’s what I had to say on this semi-final’s unforgettable finale, which is what set it apart from any other fight we’ve seen this year.
I’ve decided that the third round of Nurdauletov-La Cruz is the best round of the tournament for me. It’s not the most exciting round, nor the most dramatic, but it perfectly encapsulates what makes one of the best amateur boxers in the sport’s history truly great. Julio César La Cruz, behind on the cards and chasing a fifth world championship when many of his compatriots had succumbed to complacency, fought with the urgency and passion of a fighter chasing his first world title. La Cruz abandoned his typical style, instead taking the fight to Nurdauletov in the centre of the ring and adopting a high guard. It was a declaration, if anything, that La Cruz wasn’t cowed, that he could go toe to toe with this young upstart. He worked on the inside, digging shots into Nurdauletov’s body and matching the Kazakh in the trenches. One particular moment that will stay with me for a long time (you can watch it at 11:58 in the video below) is when Nurdauletov knocks La Cruz’s gum-shield out of his mouth with a left hook, only for La Cruz to glance at the gum-shield with contempt as he walks forward and launches into a lead right hand. La Cruz is just an exceptional fighter, and he showed a resilience in the final round that few Cuban fighters possess.
Then, the decision. Whilst I didn’t agree with Nurdauletov getting the nod (more on that here), I didn’t have any objection either. Both men gave their all, and whilst Nurdauletov would go on to claim his first world title in a perfect ending to his unlikely World Championship run, La Cruz showed the heart of a champion. It was a great fight, a brilliant story, and a very worthy winner for my ‘Fight of the Year’.
It’s worth acknowledging Mirzakhalilov-Tsendbataar as well though, which was pure box-office. From the opening bell, #3 seeded Tsendbataar started at a blistering pace and looked to match the Uzbek’s aggression head-on. But as Tsendbataar started to tire, Mirzakhalilov’s supreme conditioning proved to be telling as he fired back with combinations. It was physical, brutal and immensely entertaining, and I’d recommend that you give it a watch below.
Shoutouts to Tsendbataar and middleweight finalist Eumir Marcial for being the most entertaining fighters to watch this year; those guys were consistently in entertaining fights with their aggression and activity, and deserve credit for bringing some real excitement to the table. Some fighters make for difficult viewing with their boring styles (looking at you, Zamkovoy) so guys like Tsendbataar and Marcial are really refreshing!
Amateur Boxer Of The Decade
Amateur Boxer of the Decade - Julio César La Cruz
Honourable mentions; Robeisy Ramírez, Lázaro Álvarez, Magomedrasul Majidov
This decade has treated us to some exceptional fighters, but one man has been without peer. Boasting an unprecedented four consecutive World Championship titles, three Pan-American titles as well as Olympic gold at Rio 2016, Julio César La Cruz has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time. He’s been a joy to watch ever since he announced himself to the world in the 2011 World Championships, and following an upset loss to Yamaguchi Falcão at London 2012 the Cuban has been nigh-on untouchable at light-heavyweight. Part of what makes La Cruz so impressive is his style; he floats around the ropes with his hands by his waist, goading opponents to come forward and hit him. Yet La Cruz’s incredible reflexes, understanding of distance and upper-body movement means that even the most experienced of fighters hardly land a glove on him. If 2016 proved La Cruz’s skill, in which he didn't lose so much as a round en route to gold in Rio, then 2019 proved his grit. I’ve ranted on enough about how impressed I was by La Cruz’s performance against Nurdauletov, so I’ll spare you a repeat, but it goes without saying that La Cruz showed an ability to adapt that’s rarely seen from Cuban fighters. If you’re still not convinced on La Cruz or haven’t seen him before, check out some of his highlights on YouTube.
Although La Cruz stood out for me in this category, it goes without saying that plenty of other amateur boxers had stellar decades which warrant mentions. Robeisy Ramírez of Cuba won Olympic gold at both flyweight (2012) and bantamweight (2016), achieving the rare feat of becoming an Olympic Champion in two weight-classes.Whilst Ramírez beat a number of elite fighters in his amateur career, his failure to medal at the World Championships (having lost to Misha Aloyan in 2011 and Kairat Yeraliyev in 2013) means his accomplishments aren’t quite as impressive as that of La Cruz’s. Similarly, whilst Lázaro Álvarez enjoyed three successive World Championships at lightweight he was unable to secure an elusive Olympic gold medal, and finished runner-up at Worlds in 2017 and 2019. La Cruz has won it all, and made the world’s best look painfully average and bereft of ideas. He’s unquestionably the best amateur boxer of the decade, and has the chance to embellish his glittering career with a second gold in Tokyo this year. Given the emergence of fresh young talent at light-heavyweight, it might just be his greatest achievement.
Breakout Fighter Of The Year
Breakout Fighter of the Year - Keyshawn Davis
Honourable mentions; Bekzad Nurdauletov, Amit Panghal, Dilshodbek Ruzmetov
I could have gone with Bekzad Nurdauletov here, considering his stunning rise from the prelims to the World Championship at light-heavyweight. But I’m gonna pick America’s Keyshawn Davis, who announced to the world in 2019 that he’s a special talent and a future star. Davis reached the Pan-American Games final earlier this year, and proved that he belonged at the top level with a narrow loss to reigning World Champion Andy Cruz. Cruz has looked peerless at light-welterweight since winning the world title in 2017, so the fact that Davis ran him close was both exciting for the division and an indication of the American’s talent.
The best was yet to come though, as Davis’ break-out party truly kicked off at the World Championships in Russia. Faced with a difficult path to the final that included #2 Oumiha and #3 Bachkov, some wondered whether it was too much too soon for the 20 year-old. Those questions were quickly answered when Davis met 2017 lightweight World Champion Sofiane Oumiha in the quarter-finals, as he outclassed the experienced Frenchman to make a bold statement of intent. Against European Champion Hovhannes Bachkov in the semi’s, Davis showed off his sharp jab, defence and inside craft against the relentless Armenian to earn another decision win.
The final, a rematch with Cruz, was even tighter than their encounter in the Pan-Ams. What impressed me the most with Davis wasn’t his skill or speed, but his approach. Davis was clearly looking to limit Cruz’s countering opportunities by throwing single shots, which was a smart strategy considering the speed of the Cuban. He measured distance well, worked behind his jab and frustrated the World Champion in a way that few fighters have been able to do. Davis looked like the more tactically astute fighter of the two and considering Cruz’s ability and skill, that’s a great compliment. Whilst Davis didn’t get the nod in the final, he took arguably the best pound-for-pound amateur boxer in the world to the brink no less than three times in 2019. Alongside two convincing wins over divisional elites in Oumiha and Bachkov, that’s a pretty damn good year for the American. Nurdauletov may have gone one step further than Davis by becoming World Champion in Russia, but he did so in a less competitive division and didn’t compete in any other major tournaments. Taking that into account, it’s hard to argue otherwise that Keyshawn Davis is my ‘Breakout Fighter of the Year’.
I’ll also give a nod to India’s Amit Panghal, who won silver at flyweight in this year’s World Championships and became Asian Champion at 52kg. Whilst Panghal scored a very impressive win over 2016 Olympic Champion Hasanboy Dusmatov in April, he enjoyed an easier run to the World Championship final than Davis / Nurdauletov and faced few of the division’s best. Outside of the Dusmatov win and a strong effort against Zoirov, Amit’s résumé hasn’t been quite as impressive as Davis’. He’s still had a great year though, and has energised Indian boxing’s fanbase with his success.
Ones For The Future
Ones For The Future - Tsutsumi (pictured), Khalakov, Batyrgaziev, Dickinson
So who will join Keyshawn Davis as the next young talent to make waves in the amateurs? There was plenty of promising fighters for me to choose from, but I eventually settled on four standouts; 20 year-old Hayato Tsutsumi of Japan, 19 year-old Abdumalik Khalakov of Uzbekistan, 21 year-old Albert Batyrgaziev of Russia and 20 year-old Mark Dickinson of England.
Let’s start with Tsutsumi, the rising star of Japanese boxing who many have big expectations for. Having won a number of accolades at the youth level, including gold in the World Youth Championships as well as two Asian Youth Championships, Tsutsumi’s success has translated to the senior game after he won his second national title in November. Whilst Tsutsumi has yet to really step up at the international level (with his only experience being a first round exit in the 2018 Asian Games) he’s clearly an exciting talent. Tsutsumi will have the chance to compete in front of his home crowd at the Tokyo Olympics this year, and will be one of the brightest hopes to medal alongside the more experienced Sewonrets Okazawa. Whilst I don’t think Tsutsumi is quite ready to be considered as a contender for gold at 57kg, he may very well cause an upset or two and attract the eye of fans and promoters alike.
Next up is Uzbekistan’s Abdumalik Khalakov, who won it all as a junior with victories at the Asian Youth Championships, World Youth Championships and the Youth Olympics. Competing as a senior for the first time in the 60kg division, Khalakov won his first national title in 2019 and was seen by many as the outstanding boxer of the national championships. More recently, Khalakov has been competing in the Big Bout League in India as he continues to learn his craft and develop. For me, it’s only a matter of when Khalakov becomes a force on the international stage. Don’t expect to see him in Tokyo as reigning world champion Mirzakhalilov will be ahead in the pecking order, but Khalakov will likely feature at major tournaments in the near future and I expect him to be mounting a serious challenge at the World Championships in a few years time.
With Gleb Bakshi taking the spotlight after being crowned middleweight World Champion at just 23 years-old, Albert Batyrgaziev of Russia largely flew under the radar during the championships. But the 21 year-old has quietly had an outstanding year, taking gold in the Cologne Boxing World Cup (and scoring a notable victory over European bantamweight champion Kurt Walker along the way) as well as beating the experienced Bakhtovar Nazirov to win a third successive national title. Most impressive of all was his performance in the World Championships, where he pushed three-time world champion Lázaro Álvarez all the way in the quarter-finals. Batyrgaziev is the most developed of these four talents, which is hardly surprising given his greater experience, and some might already argue he’s past the prospect stage. But I think there’s plenty more to come from the Russian, and that he’ll be a real threat in the 57kg division - don’t be shocked if he ends up on the podium in Tokyo.
Finally, we have England’s Mark Dickinson who competes at middleweight (75kg). As someone who lives in England myself, I’ve been following the domestic scene closely and Dickinson strikes me as the most talented out of the next generation coming through the ranks. Training out of Birtley ABC, which has produced a number of boxers for England over the last few years, Dickinson won European Youth Gold in 2017 before claiming his first senior national title this year. I was lucky enough to watch him in the final, and thought that Dickinson looked a class above many of the boxers who competed. Whilst Dickinson lost in the preliminary round at the World Championships in September, he had a difficult draw against the underrated Arman Darchinyan and will come learn from the experience. When Pat McCormack and Peter McGrail inevitably switch to the pro’s, look for Dickinson to be Team GB’s best hope of a medal at major tournaments.
Knockout Of The Year
Knockout of the Year - Jalolov vs. Torrez
Considering that knockouts aren’t as frequent in the amateurs as they are in the pro’s, was this category ever really in doubt? Uzbek super-heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov’s flattening of American Richard Torrez was one of the most memorable - and controversial - moments in amateur boxing this year. Many saw it as evidence that professional boxers shouldn’t be allowed to compete in the amateurs, with the 20 year-old Torrez getting blasted in such devastating fashion. Whilst there are arguments for not letting pro’s compete, this was not one of them. Amateur boxers have beaten seasoned pro boxers before (Oumiha’s win over Amnat Ruenroeng at Rio 2016 springs to mind) and Torrez just simply wasn’t good enough. You can watch the knockout below, which starts at 3:30 in the video.
In the two and a half minutes he lasted against the 6’7 Jalolov, Torrez never looked competitive. He was at a major reach disadvantage and struggled to close the distance, whilst Jalolov’s southpaw 1-2’s couldn’t miss. Then, the finish. As Jalolov closes range and throws a jab, Torrez tries to counter with a right hook - leaving him exposed to the follow-up left hand that separates the American from his senses. It was a brutal KO, and many (including myself) were worried after Torrez was carried away on a stretcher. Thankfully, he made a full recovery, and Jalolov went on to win the World Championship at super-heavyweight.
Amateur Boxing School Of The Year
Amateur Boxing School of the Year - Uzbekistan
Whilst Uzbekistan has been a powerhouse of amateur boxing in recent years, their performance in Russia this year was particularly notable as they claimed 5 medals en route to topping the medal table. What’s most impressive about the Uzbek amateur system is how they continue to produce top-level talent to replace their elite when they eventually switch to the professional ranks. 2017 medallists Hasanboy Dusmatov, Jasurbek Latipov, Bektemir Melikuziev and Shakhram Giyasov were not present in this year’s tournament, and yet Uzbekistan replenished their roster with emerging young fighters who were more than ready to step up at the highest level. Dilshodbek Ruzmetov, an unseeded 20 year-old light heavyweight, had the difficult task of replacing Olympic and World Championship silver medallist Bektemir Melikuziev when he arrived in Russia. Yet the inexperienced Ruzmetov impressed at 81kg, beating England’s Ben Whittaker en route to securing a silver medal for Uzbekistan. Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov, too, proved triumphant as he claimed gold in a deep lightweight division - in his first world championships, no less.
The Uzbek coaching staff, led by Marat Kurbanov, have taken the pressure-based Eastern European style and refined it with technical nous. The Uzbek’s cutting of the ring and use of corralling shots such as the left hook allow them to dictate the geography of the fight, and supreme fitness ensures that their volume remains consistently high throughout. The coaching, compounded by strong domestic competition for places on the national team which keeps the fighters motivated and driven, has created the most effective amateur system in the world right now. Expect their success to continue at Tokyo 2020 with the potential returns of Shakhram Giyasov at 69kg and Bektemir Melikuziev at 75kg/81kg.
The Cuban amateur system, often lauded as the gold standard of amateur boxing, offers an interesting contrast to Uzbekistan right now. Cuba had a poor year by their own lofty standards, and whilst Uzbekistan’s strong production line has kept them competitive in the absence of previous stars, Cuba generally relied too much on experienced veterans who looked bereft of hunger. Yosvany Veitia, the 2017 world champion and #1 seed, had a torrid tournament as he narrowly avoided an embarrassing first round exit to unseeded Mohammed Flippi before being unanimously beaten by England’s Galal Yafai in the second round. Arlen Lopez, the 2016 Olympic champion, has been lacklustre since his triumph in Rio and has noticeably gained weight since then - perhaps another victim of the complacency streak that has plagued this Cuban team. His exit in the quarter finals, along with compatriot Erislandy Savon’s at heavyweight, reflects how success has made some of Cuba’s elite amateurs lazy. There are exceptions, of course, in the form of Julio César La Cruz, Andy Cruz and Lázaro Álvarez. But I think that if Cuba wants to bounce back, it needs to emulate Uzbekistan and place a greater emphasis on building domestic competition in order to keep its experienced roster hungry for success.