October 12, 2003	Sunday	Sha'aban 15, 1424

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KARACHI, Oct 11: A protest by Azerbaijan on a controversial decision marred the fourth day of the Green Hill Cup international boxing tournament which saw only three out of nine Pakistanis reaching the finals on Saturday.

Pakistan’s Asian Games gold medallist Meherullah stormed into the bantamweight final while lightweight Asghar Ali struggled before moving ahead at KPT Sports Complex.

However, a questionable 32-21 decision in favour of Kazakhstan’s Shumenov Beibut against Ismailov Ali of Azerbaijan forced the Azerbaijani coach-cum-manager Mamed Eyvazov to lodge an official protest against the decision.

Light-heavyweight Ismailov was aggressive against Beibut throughout the fight and seemed to be leading when the Kazakh was warned for lowering his head in the fourth. Ismailov was surprized when Turkmenistan referee Noor Mohammad raised Kazakh’s hand and even beckoned at the jury angrily after getting off the ring.

Eyvazov submitted an official protest along with US$100 protest fee to chairman jury Syria’s Kamel Shabib.

“I am not satisfied with the decision as Ismailov knocked down the Kazakh boxer twice and the computer of the jury had stopped just before the decision. Ismailov too thinks he is the winner, therefore, we have lodged an official protest,” Eyvazov told Dawn through an interpreter.

Shabib said the decision over the protest would be announced on Sunday, the last day of the competition.

Azerbaijan’s protest was the second of the tournament since Iran had also remonstrated against a decision on Friday which enabled Pakistan Greens’ Sohail Baloch win 19-18 against featherweight Yaghoobloo Morteza.

Meher, who is not only a precocious but one of the most stylish boxers Pakistan has ever produced, outpointed Russia’s P. Chin Afanasr 11-8 before the jam-packed partisan crowd.

The Pakistani started with confidence and was accurate in the second round despite being cautious. Afanasr, slammed Meher with some stinging punches, was more like a kick boxer and received warning for hitting Meher with his leg in the third round.

The Russian fought back in the fourth but lost two crucial points in the fourth when he was again warned by the referee for kicking Meher who received a cut on his right cheek following some severe punches from the left-hander.

While Meher seemed to be coping relatively well after changing his weight category from featherweight to bantamweight, Asghar looked troubled after switching from light-welterweight to lightweight losing almost three to four kilograms.

Asghar emerged 15-13 victor but not before battling against Kazakhstan’s Orakbayev Kanat. Although the Pakistani was leading 4-3 and 7-4 in the first and second rounds, both fought neck-and- neck till the end.

After remaining on the backfoot in the two first rounds, Asghar utilised his vast experience in the third to score vital points finishing the round with 12-9 and finally scoring a close triumph.

Super-heavyweight Saifullah Niazi of Pakistan Whites was the third local pugilist to make it to the final only after an unexpected resistance from Kuwait’s Abdullah Alqalaf.

The two boxers were tied at 16-16 and the tall Pakistani finally won 63-57 on an average generated through computer.

Both the boxers were warned in the opening round for fighting with lowered heads, while the local cheering crowd was shocked when Saifullah was given eight mandatory counts.

The stocky Kuwaiti stretched the Pakistani to limits and went on the attack against Saifullah in the third round. The two boxers were again warned for serious offences, while Alqalaf was given eight counts in the final round.

Pakistan Greens’ middleweight Ahmad Ali Khan, the Asian Games silver medallist who was being expected to reach the finals, crashed out against Azerbaijan’s Tagiyev Javid 12-9.

Belligerent and skilful Russian featherweight Kertesl Henrik outpunched Pakistan’s Sohail 23-11 starting with a variety of punches in the first round.

While the Russian looked comfortable and banged the Pakistani with contemptuous ease, Sohail mainly punched thin air in the second and third rounds allowing the foreigner easy victory.

Results (semifinals):

Light-flyweight: Bedak Pdl (Hungary) bt Harry Tanamoy (Philippines) 13-10; Kwak Hyok Ju (North Korea) bt Atagun Yalcinkaya (Turkey) 19-14.

Flyweight: Kim I Hyon (North Korea) bt Akhtar Pervaiz (Pakistan Greens) 34-13; Rakhimzhanov Mirzhan (Kazakshtan) bt Abiyev Jeykun (Azerbaijan) 17-12.

Bantamweight: Meherullah (Pakistan Greens) bt Chin Afanasr (Russia) 11-8; Choe Pyong Chal (North Korea) bt Manju Wanniararachchi (Sri Lanka) 22-2.

Featherweight: Kertesl Henrik (Hungary) bt Sohail Baloch (Pakistan Greens) 23-11; Kim Song Guk (North Korea) bt Y. Morthaisong (Thailand) 8-7.

Lightweight: Asghar Ali Shah (Pakistan Greens) bt Orakbayev Kanat (Kazakhstan) 15-13; Kate Gyula (Hungary) bt Selcuk Aydin (Turkey) 19-11.

Light-welterweight: Strulnikov Dmitri (Kazakhstan) bt Khametov Eccard (Russia) 20-10; Somchai Nakbaree (Thailand) bt Aydinov Nasimi (Azerbaijan) 31-20.

Welterweight: Orazmamedow (Turkmenistan) bt Dur Mohammad (Pakistan Greens) 31-10; Sofivev Orhan (Azerbaijan) bt Bulent Ulusoy (Turkey) 13-7.

Middleweight: Tagiyev Javid (Azerbaijan) bt Ahmad Ali Khan (Pakistan Greens) 12-9; Balzsay Karoly (Hungary) bt Serdar Ustuner (Turkey) 23-16.

Light-heavyweight: Shumenov Beibut (Kazakshtan) bt Ismailov Ali (Azerbaijan) 32-21; Yildirim Tarhan (Turkey) bt Jabari Dastjerd Tahir (Iran) 16-12.

Heavyweight: Alekperov Vugar (Azerbaijan) bt Abdul Razzaq (Pakistan Greens) 22-2; Hiduegi Gyorgy (Hungary) bt Ertu Rul Ergezen (Turkey) 27-7.

Super-heavyweight: Mohammad Raza (Iran) bt Muzaffar Iqbal (Pakistan Greens) 9-7; Saifullah Niazi (Pakistan Whites) bt Abdullah Alqalaf (Kuwait) 16-16 [Saifullah won 63-57 on tie- breaker].