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UWW World Rankings:
Amouzad rises to No. 1 in freestyle 65kg
The world champion made a spectacular return to international competition since the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games, capping his campaign on Sunday with a remarkable comeback victory over Bulgaria’s Shamil Mamedov in the final.
Trailing 8-1 at the break and 10-3 with just 1:22 remaining, the 23-year-old Iranian produced a sensational late surge to secure a 17-10 victory and avenge his defeat to the Russian-born wrestler in the bronze-medal match at the 2023 World Championships.
The result further underlined Amouzad’s consistency on the international stage. The Iranian, who won silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has now lost only two of his last 30 international bouts.
Speaking after the final, Amouzad said he would prefer not to compete at September’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, opting instead to focus fully on pursuing the third World Championship gold medal of his career at October’s event in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Iran’s five-man squad completed a clean sweep of freestyle medals at the latest Ranking Series tournament in the Mongolian capital.
Mohammad Nokhodi claimed gold in the 86kg category, while Mahdi Yousefi took silver at 79kg.
Ahoura Khateri (61kg) and Abolfazl Rahmani (92kg) added bronze medals to Iran’s tally.
Elsewhere in the freestyle rankings, Iran’s Ahmad Mohammadnejad Javan is ranked second behind Russia’s Zavur Uguev in the 61kg division, while Amirali Azarpira (97kg) and world champion Amirhossein Zare (125kg) occupy second place in their respective weight classes.
Kamaran Qassempour sits third in the 86kg rankings behind American Zahid Valencia and Azerbaijan’s Arsenii Dhioev.