▪️Defending champions Kazakhstan will be represented by 39 boxers while Uzbekistan have landed in Sofia with 30 boxers and 15 coaches
▪️Algeria, Egypt and Sierra Leone carry Africa’s hopes in Europe’s oldest boxing tournament
February 22, 2026
The fierce rivalry between Central Asia boxing giants, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will be renewed at the 77th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, from February 23-March 1 at the Sofia Hall.
Uzbekistan is aiming to topple defending champions Kazakhstan who won the 2025 Strandja Memorial Tournament with six gold, 15 silver and 12 bronze medals followed by Uzbekistan 5-1-2 and hosts Bulgaria third 4-1-3.
Uzbekistan arrived in Sofia with 30 boxers – 15 male and female apiece – with team leader Mirzohid sounding a warning to rivals Kazakhstan.
“We’re here for nothing but the top position and silence our rivals Kazakhstan,” said Mirzohid who is also the head of International Relations Department in Uzbekistan Boxing Federation.
To show how serious they are, Uzbekistan have 15 coaches in Sofia two of them being head coaches.
Kazakhstan, who also finished ahead of Uzbekistan in the 2025 Men’s World Championships, will be represented by 39 boxers, 19 men and 20 female boxers.
Following a dominant 2025 where both nations led the world rankings—with six boxers each ranked number one—the rivalry in Sofia will highlight the depth of talent in Central Asia as they begin the cycle towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The Strandja Memorial is recognized as the oldest international boxing tournament in Europe, consistently drawing top-tier talent from around the globe. Both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan historically send large, powerful delegations to test their lineups, making their head-to-head encounters the highlight in most major tournaments.
Kazakhstan enter the tournament with momentum after a massive 6-gold, 17-medal performance at the 2026 Boxam Elite Tournament in Spain in early February.
Uzbekistan has talents like Asilbek Jalilov (50kg), Samandar Olimov (55kg), and Shavkatjon Boltayev (70kg).
Kazakhstan, having recently showcased the strength of boxers like Makhmud Sabyrkhan and Torekhan Sabyrkhan, will feature a similarly experienced lineup.
With over 30 nations participating, the 2026 tournament is crucial as a key preparatory event for the upcoming European Championships and the broader 2026 season.
Hosts Bulgaria will parade 27 boxers, 21 men and six boxers.
The Bulgarians produced the best boxer in men’s and women’s categories – Radoslav Rosenov and Zlatislava Chukonova – in the 2025 Strandja Memorial tournament,
Africa’s hopes are on Algeria, Egypt, and Sierra Leone in the prestigious 77th Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament.
As the sole Africa representatives, these nations face elite global competition, displaying their strength in Europe’s oldest international boxing event.
Algeria will be represented by five female and three male boxers, Egypt four male and two female boxers while Josefien Angel Betist is the only boxer carrying Sierra Leone’s flag in Sofia.
Continuing a strong boxing tradition of resilience and national pride, Algeria’s participation follows their success at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Among the top boxers in Algeria’s team is the 2022 world championships bronze medallist Ichrak Chaib who also won gold at the 2022 and 2023 Africa Elite Championships.
Egypt will test their boxers against top international talent, building on its competitive history in regional boxing, and among the boxers Egypt is banking on is African Games bronze medallist Yomna Ayyad.
Sierra Leone aims to make an impact on the international stage, competing alongside global boxing powerhouses such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Inspired by her impressive win at the inaugural Africa Pro Boxing Night in Tunisia in 20225, Josefien Angel Betist is aiming for a podium finish. She defeated Tunisia’s Amal Mathlouifi in the lightweight division.
Josefien is an Irish-Sierra Leonean and holds Sierra Leonean citizenship through her family roots (mother and grandfather).
“A medal at the Commonwealth Games is my main goal this year,” Betist told boxersworld.co.ke in a telephone interview from Sofia.
She went on: “Strandja is like mini world championships, always a tough event with 32 top nations here. I like to get to medal stages but it’s about performance and seeing my training ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Brazilian world champion will be one of top gold medal prospects in Strandja.”
Her coach William Brereton is optimistic of positive results in Sofia.
“Strandja is like mini world championship all top countries are here. For a boxer as young as Josefien experience of boxing in a competition like this one is necessary to progress her career,” said Brereton, adding: “Hoping for a good draw, pick up a couple of wins early in the competition see where it takes her, and all in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in the summer.
After Strandja, Brereton said they plan to take part in the Riga Box Cup in Latvia and another international tournament in Martinique in the Caribbean.
Full results of the 2025 76th Strandja Memorial International Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria
Men
48 kg:
1st place – Sabri Ergunal (Bulgaria)
2nd place – Behruz Kholdorov (Uzbekistan)
3rd place – Temirtas Zhusupov (Kazakhstan), Luis Rooney (Ireland)
51 kg:
1st place – Samet Gümüş (Turkey)
2nd place – Daniyal Sabit (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Asilbek Jalilov (Uzbekistan), Nijat Guseynov (Azerbaijan)
54 kg:
1st place – Timur Kabdeshov (Kazakhstan)
2nd place – Shakhzod Muzaffarov (Uzbekistan)
3rd place – Amin Mamedzade (Azerbaijan), Christopher Hippocrate (France)
57 kg:
1st place – Khuzhanazar Nortoev (Uzbekistan)
2nd place – Zalimkhan Suleymanov (Azerbaijan)
3rd place – Orazbek Asylkulov (Kazakhstan), Giorgi Kapanadze (Georgia)
60 kg:
1st place – Radoslav Rosenov (Bulgaria)
2nd place – Serik Temirjanov (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Talgat Syrimbetov (Kazakhstan), Adam Hession (Ireland)
63.5 kg:
1st place – Ertugan Zeynullinov (Kazakhstan)
2nd place – Muhammad Sabyr Bazarbayuly (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Viktor Ioiev (Bulgaria), Dean Clancy (Ireland)
67 kg:
1st place – Nabi Isgandarov (Azerbaijan)
2nd place – Torekhan Sabyrkhan (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Zaur Gahramanov (Azerbaijan), Demur Kadzhaya (Georgia)
71 kg:
1st place – Ablaykhan Zhusupov (Kazakhstan)
2nd place – Farukh Tokhtassunov (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Rontoni Guidi (Italy), Loris Idrizi (Kosovo)
75 kg:
1st place – Sabyrzhan Akkalykov (Kazakhstan)
2nd place – Timur Nursaitov (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Rami Kivan (Bulgaria), Zhavokhir Ummataliev (Uzbekistan)
80 kg:
1st place – Fazliddin Erkinboev (Uzbekistan)
2nd place – Yrasyl Zhakpekov (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Lucky Aimufua (Austria), Dimeji Shittu (England)
86 kg:
1st place – Bekzat Nurdaulatov (Kazakhstan)
2nd place – Nurbek Oralbay (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Yan Zak (Israel), Semen Boldyrev (Bulgaria)
92 kg:
1st place – Turabek Khabibullaev (Uzbekistan)
2nd place – Vagkan Nantzanyan (Greece)
3rd place – Jack Marley (Ireland), Daniyar Rakhimberdinov (Kazakhstan)
+92 kg:
1st place – Jahongir Zokirov (Uzbekistan)
2nd place – Aibek Oralbay (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Dammar Thomas (England), Nikoloz Begadze (Georgia)
Women
48 kg:
1st place – Sevda Asenova (Bulgaria)
2nd place – Aigerim Sattibayeva (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Rabia Topuz (Turkey), Kiara Walsh (Ireland)
50 kg:
1st place – Zlatislava Chukanova (Bulgaria)
2nd place – Roman Mulai (France)
3rd place – Filiz Isik (Turkey), Elyanur Turganova (Kazakhstan)
52 kg:
1st place – Rim Bennama (France)
2nd place – Venelina Poptoleva (Bulgaria)
3rd place – Zhazira Urakbaeva (Kazakhstan), Zhansaya Rakymberdi (Kazakhstan)
54 kg:
1st place – Nilay Yaren Cham (Turkey)
2nd place – Anel Sakish (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Symbat Aliascar (Kazakhstan), Melissa Bonneau (France)
57 kg:
1st place – Wu Shi-I (Taiwan)
2nd place – Aidana Zabynbekova (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Pinar Benek (Turkey), Ece Asude Ediz (Turkey)
60 kg:
1st place – Donjeta Sadiku (Kosovo)
2nd place – Rimma Volosenko (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Evin Erginoguz (Turkey), Rebecca Nicolli (Italy)
63 kg:
1st place – Sasha Hiki (England)
2nd place – Angela Carini (Italy)
3rd place – Berfin Polat (Turkey), Laura Esenkeldi (Kazakhstan)
66 kg:
1st place – Yan Liu (China)
2nd place – Berfin Kabak (Turkey)
3rd place – Diona Burman (England), Gauhar Shaybekova (Kazakhstan)
70 kg:
1st place – Chen Nien-Chin (Taiwan)
2nd place – Elisavet Konstantinidou (Greece)
3rd place – Nilay Kodzhigit (Turkey), Aziza Isina (Kazakhstan)
75 kg:
1st place – Li Qian (China)
2nd place – Vasiliki Stavridou (Greece)
3rd place – Melissa Gemini (Italy), Shugila Nalibay (Kazakhstan)
81 kg:
1st place – Bu Ridu (China)
2nd place – Zhibek Zharaskyzy (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Rabia Yudjeer (Turkey)
+81 kg:
1st place – Lazat Kungybaeva (Kazakhstan)
2nd place – Dina Islambekova (Kazakhstan)
3rd place – Seyma Duztash (Turkey)
Results courtesy of sportaran.com
