#YasarDogu2018

Burroughs and Chamizo Set to Clash in Yasar Dogu Finals, Alborov Beats Two Olympic Champs on Road to Finals

By Eric Olanowski

ISTANBUL, Turkey (July 27) - The second installment of Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Frank CHAZMIO (ITA) is scheduled for tomorrow’s 74kg Yasar Dogu finals after both wrestlers finished the opening day with three solid performances apiece.

This time around, expect the conditions to be a little more conducive to wrestling, as they will compete indoors at the Bağcılar Olympic Sport Hall on a dry mat.

The two superstars who combine for ten world and Olympic medals met outdoors in May’s highly anticipated Beat the Streets finale, now known as “Slip Gate,” due to lack of footing which stemmed from the condensation build up on the mat.

In that Beat the Streets match-up, Burroughs “slipped” past Chamizo and scored the 6-5 come-from-behind victory.

Chamizo, the two-time world champion, and Rio Olympic bronze medalist commanded the 4-0 lead after a pair of first-period takedowns from a slide-by and a counter-offensive high-crotch. But, with short time remaining in the opening period, Burroughs, the London Olympic champion picked up his first two points and closed the Italian wrestlers lead to 4-2.

The second period belonged to America's four-time world champion, as he capped off the match by blasting through Chamizo with his patented double leg, ultimately winning the bout, 6-5.

After the match, both wrestlers admitted that the mat conditions were not ideal and caused a lot of issues.  Burroughs ended  the interview by looking at Chamzio and saying “Go back down to 70kg.”

In addition to Burroughs, fellow American's Thomas GILMAN (USA) and David Morris TAYLOR (USA) made the finals in their respective weight classes.   

 Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) defeated two Olympic champions on his way to the 97kg gold-medal bout. (Photo by Max Rose Fyne)

Meanwhile, Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE), the 2017 world bronze medalist went 3-0 and beat a 2017 European champion and two Olympic champions on his way to making the 97kg finals.

Alborov opened his day against fellow countryman, Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) who is a two-time Olympic medalist, winning the gold in London and bronze in Rio.

The 2017 world bronze medalist came out on top 1-0 in a match-up that likely determined who is going to represent Azerbaijan in October at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest.

Alborov continued his run into the quarterfinals, picking up the dominant 9-2 win over 2017 European Champion, Riza YILDIRIM (TUR).

Moving to the semifinals, Alborov avenged his 2017 World Championship semifinals loss to 2016 Rio Olympic champion, Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA), picking up the 3-3 win on criteria. 

In the gold-medal bout, Alborov will wrestle U23 world champion and Asian runner-up, Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI). 

The finals are scheduled to take place on Saturday at 5:30 PM local time.  

RESULTS 
Freestyle 
57kg 

GOLD -  Thomas GILMAN (USA) vs. Dzmichyk RYNCHYNAU (BLR) 

BRONZE - Winner 251 vs. Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR) 
BRONZE - Winner 252 vs. Vicky VICKY (IND) 

65kg
GOLD -  Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) vs. Mehran NASIRIAFRACHALI (IRI) 

BRONZE - Winner 253 vs. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) 
BRONZE - Winner 186 vs. Hassan MORADGHOLIEI (IRI) 

74kg
GOLD - Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) 

BRONZE - Winner 185 vs. Saeid DADASHPOURKERIKALAEI (IRI) 
BRONZE - Winner 233 vs. Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) 

86kg
GOLD - David Morris TAYLOR (USA) vs. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE) 

BRONZE - Winner 214 vs. Ahmet BILICI (TUR) 
BRONZE - Winner 232 vs. Fatih ERDIN (TUR) 

97kg
GOLD -  Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) vs. Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) 

BRONZE - Winner 235 vs. Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR) 
BRONZE - Winner 215 vs. Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) 

Women's Wrestling 
50kg 

GOLD - Sarra HAMDI (TUN) vs. Oksana LIVACH (UKR) 

BRONZE - Winner 254 vs. Semkiv ILONA (UKR) 
BRONZE - Georgina Suzana SEICARIU (ROU) vs. Ciricu EMILIA (MDA) 

55kg
GOLD -  Pinki PINKI (IND) vs. Olga SHNAIDER (UKR) 

BRONZE - Siwar BOUSETTA (TUN) vs. Nurufe NURUFE (TUR) 

59kg
GOLD - Sofiia BODNAR (UKR) vs. Olena KREMZER (UKR) 

BRONZE -  Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR) vs. Sangeeta BALALI (IND) 

65kg 
GOLD - Netreba IRYNA (AZE) vs. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) 

BRONZE -  Mariia ILCHYSHYN (UKR) vs. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) 
BRONZE - Winner 213 vs. Geeta GEETA (IND) 

72kg 
Round 3 -  Rajni RAJNI (IND) vs. Beste ALTUG (TUR) 

#WrestleTirana

Kamal soars high with Tirana Ranking Series gold

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (March 1) -- The last time Kerem KAMAL (TUR) was in action internationally, he did not have a favorable outcome. A bloody battle with Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) ended in a loss at the European Championships.

But Kamal, who impressed all with his performance at all the age-group World Championships and continentals, started the 2025 season with a scintillating victory at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, capturing the 63kg gold medal.

The 2022 U23 world champion was in his elements as he defeated Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), 10-0, in the final with two big throws for four points each. His first shoulder throw gave him a 4-0 lead, then he got the par terre position from which he performed a suplex for four points to win in just over a minute. Choibekov challenged for a leg-foul but Kamal's movements were clean.

In his earlier bouts, he defeated Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) 5-1 in the quarterfinals with some incredible defense from par terre in the first period. When Mohsen Nejad tried to turn Kamal, the Turkish wrestler moved forward on the mat to break Mohsen Nejad's grip.

Mohsen Nejad needed to score to break Kamal's 1-1 criteria lead and tried a big throw which Kamal blocked and pinned Mohsen Nejad on the mat for four points.

"At the Turkish Championships six weeks ago, I moved up to the new weight class of 63kg," Kamal said. "This time I competed against very strong opponents like Mohsen Nejad from Iran and [Razvan] Arnaut from Romania. I’m happy that I was able to win all my matches. It was a good start to the new year.

Kamal will now be busy for the preparation of European Championships to be held in second week of April in Bratislava, Slovakia.

"I’m not yet 100 percent fit," he said. "I focused a lot on endurance training during the training camp, and my preparations are fully aligned with the European Championships. I wanted to test my ground defense -- I did a good job [in Tirana] but I will work even harder to make sure I can reach my full potential at the European Championships."

Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) throws Valentin PETIC (MDA) for four points during the 67kg final in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Kyrgyzstan did win a gold medal as U23 world champion Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) brought out his best in the final against Valentin PETIC (MDA), beating the Moldovan 11-0 to capture the 67kg gold medal.

This was the second gold medal for Kyrgyzstan in Tirana after Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) won the 77kg gold medal on Friday.

Beishekeev, the U23 world champion last year in Tirana, needed only the first par terre position to complete the technical superiority win over Petic. He went for the reverse left and scored four points and as Petic landed on his back, Beishekeev went for the fall. However, Petic blocked Beishekeev with his hands on legs was docked two caution points.

With a 7-0 lead and restart in par terre, Beishkeev once again went for the reverse lift and scored a four-pointer to complete the 11-0 win.

RESULTS

63kg
GOLD: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), 10-0

BRONZE: Baiaman APILOV (KGZ) df. Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 3-1

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Valentin PETIC (MDA), 11-0

BRONZE: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Madiyar MAULITKANOV (KAZ), 7-2
BRONZE: Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) df. Lei LI (CHN), 9-1