Youth World Boxing Championships:
Malek-Khatabi into historic final; Kazemi, Esmaeili win bronze
Amirreza Malek-Khatabi continued his history-making campaign at the IBA Youth World Boxing Championships by reaching the final showpiece of the men’s -92kg contests in Budva, Montenegro.
Stepping into the ring on the back of a 4:1 victory over Russian Oleg Kliuchagin, Malek-Khatabi came out victorious against Tynystan Alybaev – after the referee deemed the Kyrgyz boxer unfit to continue – to become the first Iranian to reach a world final across any age class.
An Asian youth bronze winner in May, the Iranian boxer will take on Khalimjon Mamasoliev of Uzbekistan, who defeated Kazakhstan’s Rassul Assankhanov (5:0) for the gold medal.
Elsewhere, Mahdi Kazemi and Amir Esmaeili secured maiden medals for Iran in the competition despite last-four setback in their respective events.
Representing the country in the -51kg contests, Kazemi fell to a 5:0 loss to Kazakhstan’s Bexultan Boranbek, while reigning Asian champion Esmaeili came short against Irish opponent Adam Olaniyan in the +92kg last four.