The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games concluded in Azerbaijan with thrilling boxing finals that saw Uzbekistan’s young talents dominate the ring, while neighboring Tajikistan celebrated a historic gold medal in Yevlakh.
The boxing tournament, held over seven days at the Yevlakh Olympic Center across eight host cities, featured some of the most promising athletes from the region.
Uzbekistan’s Utkirbek Norkosimov reached the final in the pinweight (46kg) category but narrowly lost to Azerbaijan’s Kardash Rakhimov by a 3:2 split decision. Another Azeri, Ali Aliyev, defeated Tajikistan’s Azamjon Khasanov in the light flyweight (48kg) final, also by a close margin.
The spotlight, however, turned to Tajikistan’s Bekhruz Umarov, who made history for his country by winning the nation’s first-ever gold medal at the CIS Games. The 15-year-old, who had trained extensively with teams in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, outclassed Azerbaijan’s Aykhan Hasanov in the semifinals and then beat Uzbekistan’s Azizbek Shokirjonov in the final to secure his landmark victory.
For Uzbekistan, the Games brought a string of impressive results. Bekhruzjon Rakhataliyev dominated the bantamweight (54kg) division, overpowering Kyrgyzstan’s Erbol Baratakhunov in the final to claim gold.
At light welterweight (63kg), Dilshod Akhmadjonov delivered a tactical performance to edge past Russia’s David Karababayev by 3:2 and secure another gold for Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Oybekjon Abdurakhimov triumphed in the light middleweight (70kg) category, defeating Russia’s Albert Kobzev, and Khurshidbek Jurayev followed suit by beating Russia’s Roman Zaporozhets in the middleweight (75kg) final.
Although Tajikistan’s Akbarjon Abdulloyev, the 2024 ASBC Asian Schoolboys champion, made it to the junior finals, he fell short against Uzbekistan’s Bobomurod Boymirzayev, further underlining Uzbekistan’s strength in youth boxing.
With multiple golds and strong performances across weight categories, Uzbekistan reaffirmed its status as a regional boxing powerhouse, while Tajikistan’s historic victory added a new chapter to Central Asia’s growing influence in the sport.
