▪️Uzbekistan have toppled Central Asia boxing rivals Kazakhstan placing a total of 17 semi-finalists while Kazakhstan have eight with only two men in the semis
February 28, 2026
Uzbekistan have had the last laugh in their Central Asian boxing rivalry with Kazakhstan in the ongoing 77th Strandja Memorial International Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.
As the tournament enters the semi-finals today, statistics provided by Bokshabermedia show Uzbekistan far ahead of defending champions Kazakhstan with a total of 17 semi-finalists while Kazakhstan have eight.
Uzbekistan and Ukraine each have nine boxers in men’s semis while in women’s, Uzbekistan lead with eight boxers in the semis followed by Kazakhstan’s six with only two male semi-finalists.
Kazakhstan won the 2025 Strandja overall title followed by Uzbekistan with Bulgaria third. The hosts have seven boxers in 39-bout card semi-finals.
Twelve countries are assured of medals in male boxing and 14 on women’s side including Egypt’s lightweight Yomna Ayyad, the sole African survivor in the gruelling event.
After seeing off fancied Kazakhstan’s 2021 Asian Women’s Championships gold medallist, Rimma Volossenko in the quarters, Yomna faces an acid test against battle-hardened Kosovo’s Tokyo Olympian and 2022 world bronze medallist Sadiku Donjeta.
In the other women’s lightweight semi-finals, Mongolia’s Namuun Monkhor meets Brazil’s Rebecca De Lima Santos.
boxersworld.co.ke
