Representatives from the professional boxing federations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, alongside Oksana Seminishina from the WBC governing council, Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev, and honorary president of the KFPB Serik Konakbaev, convened for a summit to mark the introduction of these new championship belts. They also signed the requisite documents to inaugurate the tournament.
The professional boxing federations of Turkic-speaking nations have outlined several key objectives:
- Propagate professional boxing among the youth of Turkish-speaking countries.
- Foster collaboration and exchange of expertise among participating nations in the sports realm.
- Support and nurture talented boxers, while creating conducive environments for their development and career advancement.
- Enhance friendly relations and mutual understanding among tournament participants.
Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev underscored a new direction in TURKSOY’s activities, emphasizing sports. Raev expressed enthusiasm for boxing events in Turkic countries, noting the longstanding Turkic tradition of valuing physical prowess, martial arts, and resilience.
Prior to the establishment of WBC Amateur TURKSOY, a pilot WBC Amateur Kazakhstan tournament was held last year, featuring 500 participants across 5 weight categories.
While the tournament’s framework is pending approval, preliminary plans involve national tournaments in each country, culminating in a final stage comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. The competition format will adhere to the Olympic elimination system.
In Kazakhstan, the tournament featured boxers aged 15-16 competing in helmets over four rounds of two minutes each, under the scrutiny of judges, prioritizing boxer safety. The upcoming WBC Amateur TURKSOY finals are scheduled to feature seven weight categories among boxers aged 15-16. Overall, the tournament will encompass 34 weight categories across two age groups: 13-14 years and 15-16 years, with the final phase spanning three days.
Oksana Semenishina emphasized the unifying aspect of this tournament for new belts, bringing together all Turkic nations with a shared objective of advancing boxing and sports development. With the establishment of the tournament, Turkic nations are poised to deepen their collaboration, leveraging the popularity of boxing across all TURKSOY participating states.
