LIGHT FLYWEIGHT (49 KG)

49KG – SULEMANU TETTEH – GHANA (GHA)

Tetteh made his international debut at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships where he

reached the second round, and also qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The 23-

year-old is one of 12 athletes to receive scholarships from the Ghana Olympic Committee to

prepare towards the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

49KG – IMAD AHYOUN – MOROCCO (MAR)

Ahyoun made the quarter-finals of the Doha International Tournament earlier this year to gain

vital experience of boxing in Qatar, and later achieved the best result of his career by winning

the AFBC African Confederation Boxing Championships.

49KG – FAZIL JUMA KAGGWA – UGANDA (UGA)

A southpaw fighter with plenty of energy, Kaggwa is one of Africa’s most exciting boxing

prospects. The 20-year-old won bronze at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and

made his AIBA Pro Boxing debut in 2015. Coached by Dick Katende in Naguru, he was named

the captain of the Ugandan team for the All Africa Games.

49KG – LEANDRO BLANC – ARGENTINA (ARG)

A southpaw boxer who combines constant attacks with a solid defence, Blanc began his boxing

career in 2009. Less than four years later, the multi-time National Champion started to impress

in the World Series of Boxing. Now a key member of the Light Flyweight division in AIBA Pro

Boxing, Blanc is coached in Concordia by Ramon Gonzalez and Fabricio Nieva.

49KG – JOAHNYS OSCAR ARGILAGOS PEREZ – CUBA (CUB)

The youngest member of the Cuban squad, 18-year-old Perez started his boxing career at ten

years old, and won the AIBA Junior World Championships in 2013. After an incredibly

successful youth career, he won five matches last season in the World Series of Boxing, and

arrives in Doha full of confidence after a gold medal at the AMBC American Confederation

Boxing Championships.

49KG – VICTOR DANIEL SANTILLAN – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (DOM)

Santillan has been boxing for a decade, but is still just 20-years-old. The fast and flashy

Dominican star has enjoyed a remarkable summer, with bronze medals earned at both the

AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships and the Toronto 2015 Pan American

Games. A southpaw with a great left hook, Santillan has won 84 of his 96 career bouts.

49KG – JOSELITO VELASQUEZ ALTAMIRANO – MEXICO (MEX)

After emerging as a promising young footballer in Mexico, Altamirano became inspired by the

success of his brother and began to box in 2004. His first foray into the elite level of boxing

occurred in 2011 when he won the Pan American Games in spectacular fashion. The 22-year-

old has excelled in the World Series of Boxing, and competed at two AIBA World

Championships. He won his second successive Pan American Games earlier this year in

Toronto.

49KG – NICO MIGUEL HERNANDEZ – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

One of the most highly rated American prospects, Hernandez has been preparing for the AIBA

World Championships at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Trained by father Lewis, Nico was first attracted to boxing at nine-years-old after seeing his

uncle Mike training. Hernandez won bronze at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing

Championships, and impressed in the World Series of Boxing last season for USA Knockouts.

49KG – DEVENDRO LAISHRAM SINGH – INDIA (IND)

Singh is one of India’s most successful boxers, and the 23-year-old reached the quarter-finals of

the 2011 AIBA World Championships in Baku. The Indian star comes from a fighting family as

his sister Sushila Devi is a former national level women’s boxer, and he is also a member of the

armed forces. In 2014, he was presented with the Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service

at an investiture ceremony at the Eastern Army headquarters.

49KG – KORNELIS KWANGU LANGU – INDONESIA (INA)

An orthodox fighter who trains three times a day, the dynamic Kornelis Kwangu Langu made

headlines around the world following his emotional reaction after earning a spectacular gold

medal in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. The 25-year-old has built up a successful career

over the past few years, and now competes in AIBA Pro Boxing.

49KG – TOMOYA TSUBOI – JAPAN (JPN)

One of the youngest competitors who will take to the ring in Doha, 19-year-old Tsuboi reached

the quarter-finals of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships, and has also found

success in Japan’s historically tough Kanto University League. Tsuboi fights with plenty of

energy, and could cause some upsets in the World Championships.

49KG – GANKHUYAG GANERDENE – MONGOLIA (MGL)

Ganerdene has earned medals in six international tournaments this year, and has established a

deserved reputation as one of Mongolia’s most successful boxers. He reached the second

round of the 2013 AIBA World Championships after defeating Istvan Ungvari in his opening

match, and is hoping his excellent recent form will result in an even more successful competition

in Doha.

49KG – ROGEN LADON – PHILIPPINES (PHI)

Fresh off a silver medal at the recent ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships, Ladon

is continuing the excellent Filipino tradition of success in boxing’s lighter weight classes. The 21-

year-old famously wept with emotion in front of coaches Pat Gaspi and Nolito Velasco after

qualifying for the World Championships, and he is highly regarded by many of Asia’s most

knowledgeable boxing aficionados.

49KG – MURODJON RASULOV – TAJIKISTAN (TJK)

Born into boxing royalty, Murodjon’s father Vokhid is a 10-time National Champion, while the

younger Rasulov has twice become the Champion of Tajikistan. Rasulov returned to the world

of boxing after a four year of break in 2014, and has looked better than ever over the past 12

months.

49KG – HASANBOY DUSMATOV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB)

Dusmatov took the World Series of Boxing by storm last season when he won all seven of his

matches for the Ukraine Otamans franchise, and successfully returned to AOB competition this

summer after winning the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. The 22-year-old

Andizhan State University educated athlete reached the second round of the 2013 AIBA World

Championships, where he was defeated by eventual gold medalist Birzhan Zhakypov.

49KG – RUFAT HUSEYNOV – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

Aged only 18, Huseynov is one of the youngest competing boxers in Doha. The prospect

enjoyed an excellent 2014 when he won bronze at the AIBA Youth World Championships and a

Youth Olympic Games gold medal. Training out of the Gilan Boxing Club in Baku, Huseynov

has established a successful senior career, and finished on the podium at the EUBC European

Confederation Boxing Championships.

49KG – TINKO BANABAKOV – BULGARIA (BUL)

Banabakov only began his boxing training in 2009, but won his first Bulgarian Youth National

Championships just two years later. A former AIBA Youth World Championships competitor, the

21-year-old orthodox fighter has competed in 78 bouts over the course of his career, and is

coached by Evgeni Donev.

49KG – HARVEY HORN – ENGLAND (ENG)

Fighting out of the legendary Repton Boxing Club in East London, Horn first stepped into the

ring aged 10 after being inspired by his father. The 20-year-old joined the Great Britain boxing

team last year, and has since acquired success in the World Series of Boxing. Horn achieved

his best boxing performance this summer when he won silver at the 2015 EUBC European

Confederation Boxing Championships.

49KG – BRENDAN IRVINE – IRELAND (IRL)

Awarded the best boxer trophy at the 2014 Pavlyukov Youth Memorial Tournament, Irvine

defeated two Cuban talents in the event to claim the gold medal. Inspired by Ireland’s London

2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Katie Taylor, Irvine dedicated his silver medal at the Baku

2015 European Games to his late father James. The youngest member of the Irish boxing team,

the 19-year-old is nicknamed the ‘Wee Rooster’.

49KG – DAWID JAGODZINSKI – POLAND (POL)

A three-time Polish National Champion, Jagodzinski has been boxing for ten years, and won

three matches last season in the World Series of Boxing. Known for his tremendous work ethic

and speed in the ring, Jagodzinski trains at the Pomorzanin Torun Boxing Club in Torun,

Poland.

49KG – VASILIY EGOROV – RUSSIA (RUS)

Educated at the North-Eastern Federal University, Egorov won gold at the EUBC European

Confederation Boxing Championships, and also triumphed at the 2014 FISU University World

Championships. The 22-year-old dedicated his 2014 Russian National Championships victory to

his friends and family in the Sakha Region of Russia. Egorov has also found success in the

World Series of Boxing for Russian Boxing Team.

49KG – SAMUEL CARMONA HEREDIA – SPAIN (ESP)

Nicknamed "El Infierno", Heredia is an exciting Spanish boxer who was educated at IES La

Isleta. At 19, the orthodox fighter is an emerging talent at elite level, but reached the quarter-

finals of the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships.

49KG – MUHAMMET UNLU – TURKEY (TUR)

Unlu has won two bronze medals this year, and competed in both the AIBA Junior and Youth

World Championships in his early career. Born in Tuzluca and coached by Turgay Karasu and

Muhammet Ali Kolu, Unlu enjoys visiting museums and cinema in his spare time.

49KG – DMYTRO ZAMOTAYEV – UKRAINE (UKR)

The Ukrainian has established an impressive 133-22 record in the ring despite being just 20-

years-old. A former AIBA Junior World Championships bronze medalist, Zamotayev won the

2013 EUBC European Youth Continental Championships, and claimed bronze this year in the

Baku 2015 European Games. When not training at the Youth Sports School No.11 Boxing Club,

Zamotayev enjoys watching and playing football.

49KG – JOSH ENGLISH – AUSTRALIA (AUS)

23-year-old Josh English has been training in the United States ahead of Doha 2015, having

traveled to America following his recent gold medal at the OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing

Championships. The three-time Australian National Champion competed at the 2013 AIBA

World Championships in Almaty where he was eliminated in the first round, and is eager to

improve in Doha. English has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the highly regarded

Macquarie University, while his favourite movie is the comedy Step Brothers.

FLYWEIGHT (52 KG)

52KG – MOHAMED FLISSI – ALGERIA (ALG)

The Algerian star won silver at the 2013 AIBA World Championships, and is in tremendous form

as he attempts to win gold in his third World Championships. Victories at the AFBC African

Confederation Boxing Championships and the All Africa Games have left Flissi full of

confidence, while he has also performed well this year in AIBA Pro Boxing. A powerful Flyweight

with tremendous drive, the 25-year-old is expected to be one of Africa’s most successful

competitors in Doha.

52KG – ACHRAF KHARROUBI – MOROCCO (MAR)

The third ranked Flyweight in Season V of the World Series of Boxing, Kharroubi was a key

member of the Morocco Atlas Lions squad. Prior to his WSB exploits, the 22-year-old

sensationally won the 2014 Roberto Balado Cup in Havana to underline his ability in all forms of

boxing. Perhaps inspired by his past triumph in Havana, Kharroubi has been preparing for the

AIBA World Championships in Cuba.

52KG – MONTASSAR EL BOUALI – TUNISIA (TUN)

A soldier in the Tunisian Army, El Bouali won the African Military Championships earlier this

year, and also claimed gold at the Doha International Tournament. Because of his military

duties, the 28-year-old lacks international experience, but is one of the strongest Flyweight

fighters in Africa.

52KG – FERNANDO DANIEL MARTINEZ – ARGENTINA (ARG)

An orthodox fighter who trains at the ATE Gym, Martinez first emerged at the 2009 AIBA World

Championships where he reached the second round. The 24-year-old also fought in the 2011

edition, but made his name in the World Series of Boxing when he established an impressive

winning record across four seasons. Martinez now competes in AIBA Pro Boxing, and recently

enjoyed an impressive TKO victory over Jasurbek Latipov.

52KG – CEIBER DAVID AVILA SEGURA – COLOMBIA (COL)

A veteran of two AIBA World Championships, the Antioquia resident won two bronze medals

this summer at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships and the Toronto

2015 Pan American Games. The 26-year-old won his first National Championship in 2008, and

has continued to excel for his country ever since.

52KG – DAVID ALEJANDRO JIMENEZ RODRIGUEZ – COSTA RICA (CRC)

The southpaw created history at the 2013 AIBA World Championships when he became the first

Costa Rican boxer to win a medal in an AIBA event. He moved up to Flyweight at the start of

2015, and has won three medals this year. Coached by Victor Meneses Fonseca in Cartago

Centro, he trains 24 hours a week.

52KG – YOSBANY VEITIA SOTO – CUBA (CUB)

23-year-old Yosbany Veitia is a stylish southpaw who has consistently excelled in his career.

One of the most successful athletes in World Series of Boxing history, he obtained a fearsome

record across his first two seasons in the competition. The 2013 AIBA World Championships

bronze medalist surprisingly lost both of his major finals this summer, so is eager for gold in

Doha.

52KG – YOEL SEGUNDO FINOL RIVAS – VENEZUELA (VEN)

The 20-year-old Venezuelan star has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past year. Just 12

months after reaching the quarter-finals of the AIBA Youth World Championships, Rivas won

gold at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships after beating two AIBA World

Championships medalists in the event. A southpaw who trains 24 hours a week at the

Hermanos Varela Boxing Club, he impressed last season in the World Series of Boxing.

52KG – HU JIANGUAN – CHINA (CHN)

The defending Chinese National Champion won two bouts in Season V of the World Series of

Boxing, where his busy style caused constant trouble for his opponents. Blessed with a fast jab

and excellent footwork, Jianguan is equally comfortable boxing off the back or front foot, and is

able to box at full pace for the entire duration of his bouts.

52KG – MADAN LAL – INDIA (IND)

Lal has competed with aplomb all over the world, having earned medals from tournaments in

Cyprus, Pakistan and Finland over the course of his career. The Indian fighter also competed at

the 2013 AIBA World Championships, but was narrowly defeated by Alexandru Riscan. Now

aged 23, Lal is hoping to improve on his competition from two years ago.

52KG – OLZHAS SATTIBAYEV – KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ)

One of the many members of the Season V winning World Series of Boxing Astana Arlans

team, Sattibayev is one of the most experienced members of the Kazakh squad, and achieved a

career best victory at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. Sattibayev rose to

prominence by winning the AIBA Cadet World Championships, before earning silver a year later

at the AIBA Junior World Championships. He reached the second round of the 2013 AIBA

World Championships, before losing to Michael Conlan by just one point.

52KG – AZAT USENALIYEV – KYRGYZSTAN (KGZ)

Named the ASBC Discovery of the Year in 2013 and the January 2015 AIBA Boxer of the

Month, Usenaliyev began boxing in 2002, and made his first appearance in the AIBA World

Championships in 2009. Since then, the Kyrgyz fighter has competed in two further editions, but

has only won once in his three World Championships appearance. Buoyed by an excellent 2015

which included a memorable World Series of Boxing win over Andrew Selby, the orthodox

fighter is aiming for an improved performance at his fourth World Championships.

52KG – IAN CLARK BAUTISTA – PHILIPPINES (PHI) A talented 20-year-old who trains four hours a day at the PSC ABAP Boxing Gym Manila,

Bautista created headlines all over the world earlier this year and was described as the new

Manny Pacquiao following a spectacular knockout victory over Thongbang Seauphom in the

Southeast Asian Games.

52KG – ZARIP JUMAYEV – TURKMENISTAN (TKM)

Jumayev is a high level boxer who reached the second round of the 2011 AIBA World

Championships just a year after competing in the AIBA Youth World Championships. The 23-

year-old then advanced to the third round of the 2013 World Championships where he defeated

Muhammad Waseem and Mohammad Aref Nazari. Educated at the National Institute of Sport

and Tourism of Turkmenistan, Jumayev is coached by Shohrat Kurbanov and Sabyr

Kseyhanov.

52KG – SHAKHOBIDDIN ZOIROV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB)

Incheon 2014 Asian Games silver medallist and Sportaccord World Combat Games winner

Shakhobiddin Zoirov has been a member of Uzbekistan’s elite team for over four years, and is

performing very well in AOB competitions in 2015, having reached three major finals. The 22-

year-old is making his first AIBA World Championships appearance since 2011.

52KG – KORYUN SOGHOMONYAN – ARMENIA (ARM)

Soghomonyan announced himself onto the world scene in 2009 when he won the AIBA Junior

World Championships, and he also earned victory at the 2011 EUBC European Youth

Continental Championships. The 22-year-old competed in the 2013 AIBA World

Championships, where he was narrowly eliminated by eventual bronze medalist David

Alejandro Jimenez. Soghomonyan moved up to Flyweight in 2014, and has looked impressive

at his new weight class.

52KG – ELVIN MAMISHZADA – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

A key member of the Azerbaijan Baku Fires World Series of Boxing team, Mamishzada earned

the best victory of his career at the Baku 2015 European Games when he claimed gold in his

home event. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, Mamishzada has been boxing since 1999, and

was educated at the AZDBTIA Sport Academy. The London 2012 Olympian will be competing at

his fourth AIBA World Championships in Doha, and reached the quarter-finals of the last two

editions.

52KG – DANIEL ASENOV – BULGARIA (BUL)

An 18-year-old sensation, Asenov achieved a stunning gold at the EUBC European

Confederation Boxing Championships to fully announce himself at elite level. Asenov’s

achievement at Europe’s premier senior event came just a year after he won silver at the 2014

EUBC European Youth Continental Championships. An enthusiastic and aggressive boxer,

Asenov reached the quarter-finals of both the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships and the

Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

52KG – MUHAMMAD ALI – ENGLAND (ENG)

Sharing a name with the most famous boxer in history is not an easy task, but the 19-year-old

Ali is carving out an excellent reputation of his own. Tipped for the top by two-time professional

world champion Amir Khan, Ali started boxing because of Khan’s exploits at the Athens 2004

Olympic Games, and the current British National Champion won bronze at the recent EUBC

European Confederation Boxing Championships. Ali also has experience of high level AIBA

events, having won silver last year at the AIBA Youth World Championships.

52KG – HAMZA TOUBA – GERMANY (GER)

A five-time German National Champion, Touba has benefited from the recent development of

boxing in Germany to enjoy excellent form this year. The 23-year-old was born and raised in

Neuss, and won bronze at the Baku 2015 European Games. Touba also performed well last

season in the World Series of Boxing for Rafako Hussars Poland, and he has reached the

second round of the past two AIBA World Championships.

52KG – NANDOR CSOKA – HUNGARY (HUN)

Csoka has only competed in 44 competitive bouts, but secured an exceptional bronze medal at

the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships earlier this year. Nicknamed ‘Nandi’,

the 18-year-old began boxing four years ago, and represented Hungary at the 2014 AIBA Youth

World Championships.

52KG – VINCENZO PICARDI – ITALY (ITA)

A true veteran of the fight game, Picardi started boxing in 1997, and reached the quarter-finals

of the AIBA Junior World Championships five years later. The Italian has fought in five AIBA

World Championships, with his best result a bronze medal in 2007, and also finished third at the

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. A consummate family man, Picardi dedicated his Baku 2015

European Games silver medal to his children.

52KG – JOSÉ KELVIN DE LA NIEVE LINARES – SPAIN (ESP)

Born in the Dominican Republic, Linares became a Spanish citizen in 2000, and started boxing

later that year. A three-time EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships medalist,

the 29-year-old fought in the World Series of Boxing last season for British Lionhearts. Linares

has previously competed in three AIBA World Championships, where he has reached two

quarter-finals.

52KG – IHOR SOPINSKYI – UKRAINE (UKR)

Following a youth career which included an appearance at the 2012 AIBA Youth World

Championships, Sopinskyi has become the number one Ukrainian Flyweight, and reached the

quarter-finals of the 2015 EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. The 21-year-

old began boxing 10 years ago, and has a 77-21 record.

52KG – IVAN PAVICH – NEW ZEALAND (NZE)

A tough southpaw, Pavich has been boxing for nine years and is an integral member of the

Hamilton Fighting Fit BC boxing club under the tutelage of coach Jeff Stutt. Pavich is no

stranger to competing at high level sporting events, having been a member of New Zealand’s

team at the 2010 World Rowing Championships. Aged 18 at the time, the Kiwi was the cox of

the men's eight rowing team after being scouted for the role in his high school canteen.

BANTAMWEIGHT (56 KG)

56KG – MOHAMMED HAMOUT – MOROCCO (MAR)

A quarter-finalist at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships, Hamout achieved an

outstanding victory in 2014 when he defeated Cuba’s London 2012 Olympic Games gold

medalist Robeisy Ramirez in the Mohamed VI Trophy. The 21-year-old lives and trains in Rabat,

and won three matches last season in the World Series of Boxing.

56KG – BILEL M'HAMDI – TUNISIA (TUN)

M’Hamdi has reached the finals of five major competitions this year, including the All Africa

Games and the AFBC African Confederation Boxing Championships. The 23-year-old has

happy memories of competing in Qatar, having won medals at both the 2015 Doha International

Tournament and the 2011 Arabic Championships.

56KG – ROGERS SEMITALA – UGANDA (UGA)

Semitala has been regarded as one of Uganda’s most exciting boxers since he broke through

as a 16-year-old in 2011. A recent move up to Bantamweight proved to be a major success

when he won bronze at the AFBC African Confederation Boxing Championships.

56KG – ROBINELSON DE JESUS VIEIRA – BRAZIL (BRA)

A true boxing veteran, the Brazilian has fought at two Olympic Games and two AIBA World

Championships. The 28-year-old recently showed his talent in AIBA Pro Boxing, and won

bronze at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships in his return to AOB

competition.

56KG – ANDY CRUZ GOMEZ – CUBA (CUB)

Faced with the pressure of replacing London 2012 Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez in

the Cuban squad, Gomez produced some terrific performances in Season V of the World Series

of Boxing, and claimed gold in both of the major American tournaments this summer. The 20-

year-old reached the quarter-finals of the 2012 AIBA Youth World Championships, and has won

four tournaments over the past two years.

56KG – HECTOR LUIS GARCIA – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (DOM)

Garcia caused one of the shocks of last season in the World Series of Boxing when he snapped

the undefeated record of Magomed Gurbanov in spectacular fashion. Part of a new generation

of excellent Dominican talents, the Marino Minaya trained boxer won two silver medals at the

AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships and the Toronto 2015 Pan American

Games. The southpaw has an impressive boxing record of 105-14.

56KG – DAVID SEGUNDO PADILLA – ECUADOR (ECU)

Residing in Pichincha, Padilla is a fast and entertaining boxer who likes to take risks in the ring.

The current Ecuadorian National Champion is establishing a firm fan base, and memorably won

the 2014 Pacific Cup in front of his home fans in Guayaquil.

56KG – JOSE DIAZ AZOCAR – VENEZUELA (VEN)

The 26-year-old has competed in 204 bouts since he began his boxing career in 2003. A

southpaw with disarming strength, Azocar achieved a career best result this summer with

bronze at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships. Away from the ring, the

Venezuelan is a Technical Operator at Petroleum of Venezuela.

56KG – SHIVA THAPA – INDIA (IND)

Away from boxing, Thapa loves singing and dancing, while inside the ring he is a well-rounded

athlete who always has the capacity to entertain. The Indian won medals in both the AIBA

Junior and Youth World Championships, and reached the quarter-finals of the 2013 AIBA World

Championships. Thapa has named his father Padam as the most influential person in his life,

while elder brother Gobind also achieved success in boxing.

56KG – KAYRAT YERALIYEV – KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ)

Yeraliyev mixes his boxing career with serving in the Kazakh army, and is looking to improve on

the bronze medal he won at the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships. The Sydney 2000

Olympic Games inspired Yeraliyev to take up boxing after two of his compatriots achieved gold

medals, while one of his sporting heroes is Roy Jones Jr. Away from the ring, he enjoys drinking

tea and eating plov, which is a rice dish cooked in a seasoned broth.

56KG – CHATCHAI BUTDEE – THAILAND (THA) Nicknamed ‘Fresh’, Butdee was named the 2013 Men’s Athlete of the Year in Thailand after

claiming bronze at the 2013 AIBA World Championships, and winning the Southeast Asian

Games. The experienced 30-year-old is also a soldier who competes for the 1st Army Arai

Boxing Club, and his boxing idol is Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gold medalist Somjit

Jongjohor. Butdee will be competing in his fifth World Championships, which makes him one of

Thailand’s most successful boxers of all time.

56KG – YAKUB MEREDOV – TURKMENISTAN (TKM)

After a decorated Youth career which included impressive performances at the ASBC Asian

Youth Championships and the AIBA Youth World Championships, Meredov has built an

impressive career at the elite level. The 22-year-old is a crafty southpaw who has competed in

133 bouts, and the Khazar resident will be looking to impress in his first senior AIBA World

Championships.

56KG – MURODJON AKHMADALIYEV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB)

Akhmadaliyev emerged onto the boxing landscape in 2012 when he won silver at the AIBA

Youth World Championships, and won his first Uzbek National Championships a year later. Now

20, the Tashkent star is coming off a career best silver at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing

Championships, and his switch to Bantamweight last year has proved to be a great success.

56KG – TRAN PHU CUONG – VIETNAM (VIE)

One of Vietnam’s most exciting boxing prospects, Cuong trains at the Can Tho club, and has

recently moved up to Bantamweight following many years of success in the Flyweight division.

56KG – HAKAN ERSEKER – QATAR (QAT)

A winner of 61 bouts since debuting in 2007, Erseker’s first victory in AIBA Pro Boxing was

greeted with much praise and surprise after he defeated the number one ranked Benson

Gicharu. The 21-year-old possesses a lot of power for a Bantamweight, and his endurance is

also an elite attribute.

56KG – ARAM AVAGYAN – ARMENIA (ARM)

Avagyan fought at the 2008 AIBA Youth World Championships, and reached the third round of

the 2013 AIBA World Championships to considerable acclaim. The 24-year-old trains 24 hours

a week at the Hayastan Sport Unity Boxing Club, and is trained by Karen Aghamalyan. An

orthodox fighter with a great jab, Avagyan won bronze at the EUBC European Confederation

Boxing Championships.

56KG – TAYFUR ALIYEV – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

One of Azerbaijan’s brightest talents, Aliyev began boxing at ten-years-old, and after competing

at the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships, the 18-year-old won his first elite National

Championships earlier this year. Aliyev’s senior level success continued with bronze at the Baku

2015 European Games.

56KG – DZMITRY ASANAU – BELARUS (BLR)

A tall and awkward Bantamweight boxer, Asanau arrives in Doha after three golden tournament

victories this year, and a silver medal at the Baku 2015 European Games. The Aliaksandr

Stryzhak coached fighter has fought in both the AIBA Junior World Championships and the

AIBA Youth World Championships, and is emerging as one of the most exciting Belarusian

sporting talents.

56KG – FREDERIK LUNDGAARD JENSEN – DENMARK (DEN)

A carpentry student and an avid fan of computer games, Jensen is also developing into a top

class boxer. The 19-year-old lives in Aalborg, and has competed in 71 bouts since 2007. The

Dane reached the quarter-finals of both major European events this year, and fought in the

2012 AIBA Youth World Championships.

56KG – QAIS DAD ASHFAQ – ENGLAND (ENG)

After playing cricket and football from an early age, Ashfaq focused his attention to boxing at

eight-years-old after watching his cousin box. After dominating the British scene in his youth and

junior days, the Yorkshireman emerged onto the world scene by winning silver at the 2014

Commonwealth Games. 2015 has proved to be his most successful year to date, with two World

Series of Boxing victories, plus medals at the Baku 2015 European Games and the EUBC

European Confederation Boxing Championships.

56KG – MICHAEL CONLAN – IRELAND (IRL)

One of Europe’s most successful fighters over the course of this decade, Conlan won bronze at

the London 2012 Olympic Games, and has twice reached the AIBA World Championships

quarter-finals. After qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through his performances for

Italia Thunder in the World Series of Boxing, Conlan returned to AOB competition with gold at

the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. His elder brother Jamie is an

undefeated professional boxer.

56KG – FRANCESCO MAIETTA – ITALY (ITA) Maietta has amassed a 55-10 boxing record, and has achieved a great deal of success since

taking up the sport in 2009. A bronze medal from the EUBC European Confederation Boxing

Championships represents his finest achievement, while he reached the second round of the

2014 AIBA Youth World Championships.

56KG – BAKHTOVAR NAZIROV – RUSSIA (RUS)

The inaugural Baku 2015 European Games Bantamweight Champion, Nazirov has won his last

three major APB competitions, and is in terrific form ahead of Doha 2015. A confident and fluid

fighter, the Russian is based in Langepas, and gained valuable experience of international

competition at the 2012 AIBA Youth World Championships.

56KG – MYKOLA BUTSENKO – UKRAINE (UKR)

Since reaching the second round of the 2008 AIBA Youth World Championships, Butsenko has

excelled in high profile competition. The 24-year-old won silver at the 2013 AIBA World

Championships, and achieved three victories last season in the World Series of Boxing.

Butsenko was also nominated for the 2013 Ukrainian athlete of the year, and will be competing

at his third AIBA World Championships in Doha.

56KG – JAYDEN HANSEN – AUSTRALIA (AUS)

Hansen has already fought in Doha this year when he reached the quarter-finals of the Doha

International Tournament. The Australian will turn 23 just prior to the start of the World

Championships, and will hope to celebrate with a series of impressive performances in the

event. He will be enthusiastic at fighting away from home after his experiences of competing at

the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships, and the 2013 Roberto Balado Cup.

56KG – BOE LIONEL WARAWARA – VANUATU (VAN)

One of the most exciting prospects in Oceania, Warawara has won all 35 of his national level

bouts, while his gold medal at the OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships clearly

represented the improvement he has made internationally. Widely heralded in his native

Vanuatu, the hard working 20-year-old has been personally funded by his father and coach Uru

during the course of his career.

LIGHTWEIGHT (60 KG) 60KG – REDA BENBAZIZ – ALGERIA (ALG)

A former competitor in the AIBA World Junior and Youth Championships, Benbaziz reached the

second round of the 2013 AIBA World Championships. Since then, the Lightweight star has

been in sensational form, having won five bouts in the World Series of Boxing, and two gold

medals in AOB competition this year. Benbaziz began his boxing career aged 13, and was

treated to a ceremony in 2013 following his Mediterranean Games gold medal.

60KG – MAHMOUD ABDELAAL MAHMOUD ABDELAAL – EGYPT (EGY)

Abdelaal emerged onto the boxing scene after reaching the second round of the 2010 AIBA

Youth World Championships, and won his first Egyptian National Championship a year later.

The Cairo based fighter has won medals in Morocco, Romania, Algeria, and Hungary this year,

while he also tasted success in Qatar with a Doha International Tournament bronze medal.

60KG – HASSAN ABDU ASUNI – UGANDA (UGA)

Asuni’s serves as a soldier in the Ugandan Army, but the experienced Lightweight has begun to

establish a successful boxing career over the past year after returning to the sport. The 29-year-

old achieved a tremendous bronze medal at the recent AFBC African Confederation Boxing

Championships, and will compete in his first ever international event at Doha 2015.

60KG – ROBSON DONATO CONCEICAO – BRAZIL (BRA)

A veteran of three AIBA World Championships, Conceicao won silver at the 2013 edition in

Almaty. The AIBA Pro Boxing star began boxing aged 13, and enjoys cooking and taking care of

animals, while his favourite sporting memory occurred when he proposed to his wife during an

interview at the Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games. Conceicao’s boxing idols are Roy

Jones Jr and Floyd Mayweather, and he will be looking to maintain the momentum he gained by

winning the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships.

60KG – LAZARO JORGE ALVAREZ – CUBA (CUB)

Alvarez is the man to beat in Doha, having won the last two AIBA World Championships in the

Lightweight division. The Cuban has been a fixture on the world scene since placing second at

the 2007 AIBA Cadet World Championships, and claimed a London 2012 Olympic Games

bronze medal. Alvarez has already earned a quota for Rio 2016 after his success in Season V

of the World Series of Boxing.

60KG – LINDOLFO DELGADO GARZA – MEXICO (MEX)

The Mexican began his boxing career in 2004, and is currently based in Monterrey, Nuevo

Leon. Garza reached the second round of the 2013 AIBA World Championships, and has

recently won silver medals at the Central American & Caribbean Games and the 2015 Pan

American Games. Still just 20-years-old, the World Series of Boxing star was ranked in the top

five Lightweights last season.

60KG – JOSE LUIS ROSARIO – PUERTO RICO (PUR)

After a strong youth career, Rosario has become fully established as an elite boxer by winning

four medals this year in various strong events. The Puerto Rican mixes boxing with a career as

an industrial engineer, and won four of his five bouts last season in the World Series of Boxing

for Puerto Rico Hurricanes.

60KG – LUIS ANGEL CABRERA – VENEZUELA (VEN)

Despite being just 20-years-old, Cabrera has competed in 185 bouts during the course of his

career thus far. The Luis Pascual Mendez coached fighter trains at the Deportivo Miranda

Boxing Club in Caracas, where his average training time is 24 hours a week. Cabrera won

bronze at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships this summer, and also

won the 2015 Pan American Games Qualifier.

60KG – DAISUKE NARIMATSU – JAPAN (JPN)

Narimatsu reached the third round of the 2013 AIBA World Championships, and is in good form

ahead of his arrival in Doha after winning bronze at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing

Championships.. A ten-year boxing veteran, Narimatsu trains 20 hours a week at the Self-

Defense Forces Physical Training School under the tutelage of Yoshiyuki Hirano.

60KG – ZAKIR SAFIULLIN – KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ)

After starting to box at 12-years-old, Safiullin has now been fighting for over half of his life,

and credits the sport as a career which makes him stronger in all aspects of life. Family is very

important to Safiullin who has named his father and brothers as his heroes. The two-time

Kazakh National Champion and World Series of Boxing star mixes defensive prowess with a

keen attacking intent, and he enjoys reading psychological books in his spare time.

60KG – DORJNYAMBUU OTGONDALAI – MONGOLIA (MGL)

Awarded the ASBC Asian Discovery of the Year 2014, Otgondalai has been the most

successful boxer in his continent over the past year, having won both the ASBC Asian

Confederation Boxing Championships and the Incheon 2014 Asian Games. Doha 2015 is the

third AIBA World Championships that he has qualified for, after competing in the 2011 and 2013

editions.

60KG – KWON CHOL GUK – NORTH KOREA (PRK)

Guk juggles his boxing career while serving as a soldier in the North Korean army, and the

Pyongyang resident has won the last two DPR Korean National Championships. Appropriately

born on Boxing Day 1988, the Lightweight reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 ASBC Asian

Confederation Boxing Championships.

60KG – PACHANYA LONGCHIN – THAILAND (THA)

A newcomer to the international level, Longchin entered boxing from the world of Muay Thai,

and most recently delighted his home fans in Bangkok after enjoying a successful 2015 ASBC

Asian Confederation Boxing Championships. Speed and movement represent two of Longchin’s

main assets, and the creativity of his shots is also impressive.

60KG – ELNUR ABDURAIMOV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB)

Abduraimov has won three bronze medals in 2015, and the 21-year-old is beginning to look a

real talent under the watchful eye of coach Mars Kuchkarov. A former competitor in the AIBA

Junior and Youth World Championships, Doha 2015 will be the biggest competition of

Abduraimov’s career.

60KG – ALTAF ALEM MOHAMED SADEQ ABDULLATEEF – QATAR (QAT)

Abdullateef is a soldier who speaks both Arabic and English, while his hobbies include

swimming and weightlifting. At 33, the Lightweight is a veteran of the Qatari team, and is related

to football player Waleed Hamza. Abdullateef has previously competed in two AIBA World

Championships, and medalled in two major Doha based competitions over the past year.

60KG – ALBERT SELIMOV – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

A bonafide European boxing legend, Selimov won the 2007 AIBA World Championships after

becoming one of the few men in history to defeat Vasyl Lomachenko. The Azeri fighter later

claimed bronze in the 2009 event, and has since established a formidable record in the World

Series of Boxing. Selimov has already qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through his

WSB achievements, and enjoys playing football and basketball in his spare time.

60KG – ELIAN DIMITROV – BULGARIA (BUL)

Dimitrov is an intelligent orthodox fighter who enjoys swimming, fishing and walking in the forest

when he’s not fighting in the ring. The 24-year-old won bronze at the EUBC European

Confederation Boxing Championships at home in Bulgaria, and competed in the 2013 AIBA

World Championships.

60KG – SOFIANE OUMIHA – FRANCE (FRA)

A bronze medalist from the 2012 AIBA Youth World Championships, Oumiha has won three

tournaments this year, and claimed silver at the Baku 2015 European Games. Highly supported

at home in Toulouse, Oumiha has been preparing for Doha 2015 at a Cuban training camp, and

recently won the best boxer award at the Grand Prix in Usti nad Labem.

60KG – OTAR ERANOSYAN – GEORGIA (GEO)

Currently enjoying the most successful year of his career so far, Eranosyan claimed a famous

silver medal at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships, and also won his

second Georgian National Championships earlier this year. Eranosyan began his boxing career

at nine-years-old, and fought at the 2009 AIBA Junior World Championships.

60KG – SEAN McCOMB – IRELAND (IRL)

An exciting southpaw, McComb reached the third round of the 2013 AIBA World

Championships, and recently won bronze at the Baku 2015 European Games. Coached by

Michael and Harry Hawkings at the Holy Trinity Boxing Club, the 23-year-old recently attracted

major media interest in Ireland after he prevented two counts of burglary in one day.

60KG – DOMENICO VALENTINO – ITALY (ITA)

Heavily tattooed and tremendously talented, Valentino is a true Italian boxing icon who has won

five AIBA World Championships medals, including a gold, silver and three bronzes. The 31-

year-old currently competes in AIBA Pro Boxing, and also achieved success in the World Series

of Boxing. A fan of Juventus football club, Valentino will be hoping to earn his sixth World

Championships success in Doha.

60KG – ENRICO LA CRUZ – NETHERLANDS (NED)

A member of the Velberter Boxing Club in the German Bundesliga, La Cruz has won two

European events this year in Germany and Serbia, and also sealed bronze at the EUBC

European Confederation Boxing Championships. The Dutch fighter competed for British

Lionhearts in Season V of the World Series of Boxing.

60KG – ADLAN ABDURASHIDOV – RUSSIA (RUS)

Despite continual success in Russian and European based AOB events, Abdurashidov will

finally make his AIBA World Championships debut in Doha after reaching the quarter-finals of

the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. The 25-year-old has won 12

matches in the World Series of Boxing, and boasts excellent stamina and determination.

60KG – JOSEPH CORDINA – WALES (WAL)

Cordina has qualified for the past two AIBA World Championships, and will be confident of

making the second round in Doha for the first time after enjoying a successful 2015. The

Welshman’s partner Lauren gave birth to their baby girl named Sofia earlier this year, a month

before he won gold at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships in Sofia,

Bulgaria.

60KG – JOSHUA KEIRL – AUSTRALIA (AUS)

A boxer blessed with fast hands and a terrific work ethic, Keirl brings excitement every time he

steps foot in the ring. The Victoria resident trains at the Collingwood BC boxing club, and has

enjoyed a strong 2015 after achieving two silver medals. Keirl began his career at Light

Welterweight, but his move down to the Lightweight division has proved to be a very successful

one.

60KG – CHAD MILNES – NEW ZEALAND (NZL)

Milnes began boxing in 2006 in an attempt to lose weight in his teenage years, and it took just

two years of training for him to win a bronze medal at the New Zealand Junior National

Championships. Since then, the 23-year-old has continued to build an impressive medal

collection, and has particularly impressed at international events in Taipei and Helsinki. Named

the most Scientific Boxer at the 2013 New Zealand National Championships, Milnes is a tactical

fighter who is constantly thinking throughout his fights.

LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT (64 KG)

64KG – ABDELKADER CHADI – ALGERIA (ALG)

The vastly experienced Chadi rose to prominence at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when he

reached the quarter-finals. The orthodox fighter later qualified for the London 2012 Olympic

Games, and has also appeared at two AIBA World Championships where he made the second

round both times. Chadi recently found success in AIBA Pro Boxing, and successfully adapted

back to AOB competition this summer.

64KG – KAGISO BAGWASI – BOTSWANA (BOT)

A strong and speedy southpaw, Bagwasi competed at the 2013 AIBA World Championships

aged 20, and has won three gold and two bronze medals this year. Bagwasi began boxing in

2009, while his brother Kabelo is also a member of the Botswana National Squad.

64KG – ABDELHAK AATAKNI – MOROCCO (MAR)

Aatakni began his international boxing career at the 2006 AIBA Junior World Championships

where he reached the second round, and claimed silver at the World Military Games in 2011.

That same year, Aatakni won gold in the Arab Games, which was held in Doha. A soldier by

trade, the 27-year-old fought at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and won his second Military

World Championships medal last year.

64KG – RONAN NAHUEL SANCHEZ – ARGENTINA (ARG)

Sanchez won his first Argentinean National Tournament aged 18 in 2011, and has established

himself as an integral part of the Argentina Condors World Series of Boxing team. The orthodox

fighter trains 21 hours a week under Head Coach Polo Rodriguez in Buenos Aires.

64KG – MOVLADDIN ARTHUR BIYARSLANOV – CANADA (CAN)

Nicknamed the Chechen Wolf, Biyarslanov is one of Canada’s brightest boxing prospects. The

20-year-old is a powerful southpaw fighter who rose to prominence after qualifying for the third

round of the 2012 AIBA Youth World Championships. Since then, the Canadian star has taken

the American sporting world by storm, and he won the 2015 Pan American Games on home soil

in Toronto.

64KG – YASNIER TOLEDO LOPEZ – CUBA (CUB)

Perhaps the most polished southpaw fighter in the world, Toledo topped the Light Welterweight

rankings last season in the World Series of Boxing, and earned himself a Rio 2016 Olympic

Games quota in the process. With two-time AIBA World Championships silver medals, a

London 2012 Olympic Games bronze, plus gold medals from the 2011 Pan American Games

and the 2015 AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships, Toledo is fully formed as

a world class fighter, and is ready to share his talents in Doha 2015.

64KG – DANIELITO ZORRILLA – PUERTO RICO (PUR)

Part of a new generation of talented young Puerto Rican fighters, Zorrilla represents his country

with pride, and delighted his fans with a stunning silver medal at the AMBC American

Confederation Boxing Championships. The 21-year-old started boxing in 2007, and medalled in

his first National Championships five years later.

64KG – LUIS MARTIN ARCON DIAZ – VENEZUELA (VEN)

Ranked eighth last season in the World Series of Boxing, Diaz performed wonderfully at the

2013 AIBA World Championships where he lasted until the quarter-finals. The 23-year-old has

competed in 195 bouts since his debut, and many of his best performances came this summer

when he won bronze at both the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and the AMBC American

Confederation Boxing Championships.

64KG – MANOJ KUMAR – INDIA (IND)

Indian veteran Manoj Kumar gained valuable experience of the conditions in Qatar when he

won the Doha International Tournament earlier this year. Kumar has previously competed in

three AIBA World Championships, including the 2013 edition where he reached the quarter-

finals. A former London 2012 Olympian, he also works on the Indian Railways.

64KG – LIM HYUN CHUL – KOREAN REPUBLIC (KOR)

20-year-old Chul won three Korean Junior and Youth National Championships in his early

career, while 2015 has proved to be a very successful year with four impressive medals across

various international competitions. The orthodox fighter trains at Daejun University, and his twin

brother Lim Hyun Seok is also a boxer.

64KG – AHMAD GHOSSOUN – SYRIA (SYR)

One of the youngest boxers who will be competing in Doha, Ghossoun has only recently turned

19, but has already impressed in his senior career after winning bronze at the ASBC Asian

Confederation Boxing Championships. Based in Damascus, the Syrian reached the third round

of the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships, and will be competing in his first elite World

Championships. His brothers Sumar, Mohammad, Alaaldin and Ali also all box.

64KG – WUTTICHAI MASUK – THAILAND (THA)

Masuk combines his boxing by serving in the Thai Air Force, and the southpaw has been

involved in both careers since 2003. Coached by Omar Puentes Malagon and inspired by

Manus Boonjumnong, the 25-year-old has dominated the Light Welterweight division in Asia

over the past year, and will be competing in his third AIBA World Championships in Doha.

64KG – AZIZ BEBITOV – TURKMENISTAN (TKM)

A competitor in the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships, Bebitov has consistently won

medals during his elite career. The 21-year-old was educated at the National Institute of Sport

and Tourism of Turkmenistan, and trains 36 hours a week. Having fought in 98 senior bouts so

far, Bebitov will be hoping to reach three figures of fights in Doha.

64KG – FAZLIDDIN GAIBNAZAROV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB)

Having fought in two AIBA World Championships, Gaibnazarov is highly experienced at this

level of boxing. The Uzbek star reached the quarter-finals in 2011 where he was only defeated

by the legendary Vasyl Lomachenko, and also impressed in 2013. He also made the quarter-

final stages of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and will be keen to qualify for his second

Olympic Games with a strong AIBA World Championships performance.

64KG – THULASI THARUMALINGAM – QATAR (QAT)

An AIBA Pro Boxing athlete, Tharumalingam is an exciting Light Welterweight who has

competed in 98 career bouts. A former competitor in the German Bundesliga, Tharumalingam

looked impressive in his opening APB win over Ding Tianlong.

64KG – LORENZO SOTOMAYOR COLLAZO – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

Born in Cuba but now representing Azerbaijan, Collazo began his boxing career in 2000 and

won the Cuban National Championships in 2009. The 30-year-old became the Azeri National

Champion in 2014, and has won three tournaments this year, including the Baku 2015

European Games. Away from the ring, Collazo enjoys dancing.

64KG – PAT McCORMACK – ENGLAND (ENG)

Nominated as the BBC’s 2011 Young Sports Personality of the Year after winning the AIBA

Junior World Championships, McCormack was inspired to box after watching classic matches

with his dad, while his childhood hero was Mike Tyson. The 20-year-old won silver this year at

the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships, and he and twin brother Luke both

claimed gold at the England Boxing Elite National Championships last April.

64KG – DEAN WALSH – IRELAND (IRL)

The nephew of Ireland’s Head Coach Billy Walsh, Dean began boxing in 2001, and won bronze

at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. A two-time Irish National

Champion, Walsh is a skilful fighter who works hard in the gym. Away from boxing, he enjoys

playing table tennis.

64KG – VINCENZO MANGIACAPRE– ITALY (ITA)

The third ranked Light Welterweight last season in the World Series of Boxing, Mangiacapre

sealed a sensational bronze at the Baku 2015 European Games, and also won the 2014

European Union Championship. A tough orthodox fighter, the 26-year-old is a former AIBA

World Championships bronze medalist, and won bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

64KG – EVALDAS PETRAUSKAS – LITHUANIA (LTU)

Petrauskas won bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games at just 20-years-old, just two years

after winning silver in the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships. A quarter-finalist from the

2013 AIBA World Championships, Petrauskas has competed in 273 career bouts, and currently

competes in AIBA Pro Boxing. A car enthusiast in his spare time, the 23-year-old won bronze at

the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships.

64KG – DMITRI GALAGOT – MOLDOVA (MDA)

The Moldovan reached the third round of the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships, and

appeared at his first senior World Championships a year later. Galagot earned silver in the 2013

EUBC European Championships, and reached the second round of the AIBA World

Championships later that year. Coached by Petru Caduc in Briceni, he is a tall and awkward

fighter.

64KG – VITALIY DUNAYTSEV – RUSSIA (RUS)

The current EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships gold medallist, Dunaytsev

won five matches for Russian Boxing Team last season in the World Series of Boxing, and

reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships. At 23, the Russian is

beginning to dominate his fights, and will be a dangerous proposition in Doha.

64KG – JOHAN EDUARDO OROZCO OJEDA – SPAIN (ESP) Born in Colombia but now a Spanish citizen, Ojeda is nicknamed ‘El Talento’ and certainly lived

up to that moniker by reaching the quarter-finals of the EUBC European Confederation Boxing

Championships. A former Spanish National Champion, the 21-year-old has only been boxing for

six years, but has defeated vastly more experienced opponents over the course of his young

career.

64KG – VIKTOR PETROV – UKRAINE (UKR)

Petrov has won an incredible 214 of his 228 bouts, and earned medals in both the AIBA Youth

and Junior World Championships in his early life. At senior level, the 20-year-old made his

World Series of Boxing debut earlier this year, and won bronze at the Baku 2015 European

Games.

64KG – DAVID BIDDLE – AUSTRALIA (AUS)

Adelaide’s David Biddle reached the second round of the 2013 AIBA World Championships, and

has already won two gold medals this year ahead of his arrival in Doha. The 26-year-old was

one of Australia’s most highly regarded boxers in his teenage years, but left the sport after the

demands of training while raising his child and working full-time proved too much. His return to

the ring has seen the use of a new aggressive style, which is currently paying dividends.

64KG – COLAN CALEB – NAURU (NRU) One of Nauru’s most popular athletes, Caleb has enjoyed a successful summer after winning

silver medals at both the OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships and the Pacific

Games. A veteran of international events after competing at the 2010 Commonwealth Games,

he narrowly missed out on qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The rugged Caleb

will be a difficult opponent for anybody he faces in Doha.

WELTERWEIGHT (69 KG)

69KG – WALID SAID MOHAMED SEDIK MOHAMED – EGYPT (EGY) Mohamed enters the AIBA World Championships in tremendous form after winning medals in

five tournaments this year, including the Doha International Tournament. The 22-year-old rose

to prominence after triumphing at the 2010 AFBC African Youth Continental Championships,

and reached the third round of the AIBA Youth World Championships later that year.

69KG – MUSA RAHMAN LAWSON – GHANA (GHA)

Born and raised in Accra, Lawson is following the path set by Ghana’s excellent boxers of the

past. The 22-year-old has enjoyed international experience after competing at the 2010 AIBA

Youth World Championships and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and is a key member of the

Reformers Boxing Club.

69KG – MOHAMMED RABII – MOROCCO (MAR)

One of the biggest worldwide boxing success stories of 2015, Rabii was the number one ranked

Welterweight in Season V of the World Series of Boxing after seven consecutive victories, and

qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the process. Voted the Boxer of the Season by

WSB’s huge online audience, the orthodox Moroccan star has continued to impress by winning

gold at the AFBC African Confederation Boxing Championships.

69KG – ALBERTO IGNACIO PALMETTA – ARGENTINA (ARG)

Palmetta trains at the aptly named KO Gym in Buenos Aires and is coached by Jorge

Ochenduszka. The tall Welterweight is one of Argentina’s most successful boxers, and will be

competing in his first AIBA World Championships in Doha. Nicknamed El Mudo, the 25-year-old

won bronze in both of the marquee American events this year.

69KG – RONIEL IGLESIAS SOTOLONGO – CUBA (CUB)

Ever since he won the 2005 Cuban National Championships as a 16-year-old, Roniel Iglesias

Sotolongo has been viewed as a virtuoso boxing talent. By 2012, the Cuban had achieved

gold medals at the 2006 AIBA Junior World Championships, 2009 AIBA World Championships,

2011 Pan American Games, and the London 2012 Olympic Games. His success has continued

in 2015, with a strong season in the World Series of Boxing, and the AMBC American

Confederation Boxing Championships gold medal.

69KG – LESTER NORMANDY MARTINEZ – GUATEMALA (GUA)

Martinez became the first Guatemalan boxer to win a medal in an AIBA event when he earned

silver at the 2012 AIBA Youth World Championships. The 19-year-old has begun to establish

himself at the elite level of boxing, and will compete at his first senior international event in

Doha.

69KG – MARVIN CABRERA VERGARA – MEXICO (MEX)

One of Mexico’s most successful World Series of Boxing competitors, the 22-year-old reached

the second round of the 2013 AIBA World Championships, and his AOB form has also been

impressive this year. The son of a former professional boxer, the Mexican southpaw had his first

fight in 2000, and has a love for photography outside the ring.

69KG – GABRIEL JOSE MAESTRE PEREZ – VENEZUELA (VEN)

The son of a master builder and a housewife, Maestre was born and grew up in the

neighborhood of La Aduana. After a childhood playing baseball, the captain of Caciques de

Venezuela began boxing aged 13, and soon began to enjoy success. He made the quarter-

finals of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and won a tremendous bronze medal at the 2013

AIBA World Championships.

69KG – LIU WEI – CHINA (CHN)

Wei won two matches last season in the World Series of Boxing for China Dragons, and

achieved a career best performance at the 2014 Giraldo Cordova Cardin Memorial Tournament

in Havana, Cuba when he eliminated 2013 AIBA World Championships silver medalist

Arisnoide Despaigne en route to the gold medal.

69KG – YASUHIRO SUZUKI – JAPAN (JPN)

Named the 2011 Best Boxer of the Year in Japan, Suzuki’s triumph was significant as he had

severely injured his right arm by accidentally smashing into a window the year before. A 12-year

boxing veteran, Suzuki is one of the most experienced members of the Japanese squad, and

will be fighting in his third AIBA World Championships. Born in Hokkaido and coached by

Hirokuni Moto, the orthodox Japanese boxer is rapidly approaching his prime boxing years.

69KG – DANIYAR YELEUSSINOV – KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ)

Perhaps the most successful Asian boxer over the past two years, Yeleussinov kickstarted his

career with gold in the 2010 Asian Games, and enjoyed a remarkable 2013 when he triumphed

in both the AIBA World Championships, and the Asian Championships. Twice named the AIBA

Elite Men’s Boxer of the Year, the 24-year-old takes inspiration from legendary figures including

Serik Konakbayev, Bekzat Sattarkhanov, Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard, and

enjoys playing football and table tennis in his spare time.

69KG – TUVSHINBAT BYAMBA – MONGOLIA (MGL)

Named the best boxer at the 2010 Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Memorial Tournament, Byamba has

been boxing since he was 11-years-old. The multi-time Mongolian National Champion fought in

his first AIBA World Championships in 2007, and Doha 2015 will represent his fourth

appearance in the world class event. Byamba incorporates an excellent defence which uses

clever head movement, alongside clubbing blows from both hands.

69KG – EUMIR FELIX MARCIAL – PHILIPPINES (PHI)

One of Asia’s most highly regarded young boxers, Marcial won the 2011 AIBA Junior World

Championships in impressive fashion just three years after he took up training for the first time.

Awarded the Best Asia Youth Boxer of the Year two years later, the 19-year-old was heavily

praised at the time by Filipino boxing legend Romeo Brin. Those kind words have proved to be

accurate, as Marcial has taken 2015 by storm after winning the Southeast Asian Games, and

earning silver in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships.

69KG – SAYLOM ARDEE – THAILAND (THA)

Ardee made his AIBA World Championships debut ten years ago while still in his teenage years,

and has competed in four more editions since. The Thai fighter reached the quarter-finals of the

2013 event, and has aspirations to finally medal in his sixth World Championships in Doha. A

recent switch to Welterweight has given the 29-year-old a new lease of life, which makes the

orthodox hitter a dangerous proposition.

69KG – HZAM NABAH – QATAR (QAT)

Nabah has been boxing since 1992, and the left handed fighter has competed for the Qatar

National Team since 2004. The 2014 Doha Open Championships gold medalist fought at the

2011 and 2005 AIBA World Championships, while his boxing idol is Mike Tyson.

69KG – PARVIZ BAGHIROV – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

The Baku 2015 European Games Welterweight gold medalist, Baghirov won five matches last

season in the World Series of Boxing for the Azerbaijan Baku Fires Franchise. The 2012 AIBA

Youth World Championships bronze medalist trains at the Neftchi Boxing Club and is coached

by Vugar Alakbarov. A thinking fighter who always produces clever tactics in his bouts, Baghirov

enjoys reading books in his spare time.

69KG – PAVEL KASTRAMIN – BELARUS (BLR)

Hailing from the Brest Region of Belarus, Kastramin won the Liventsev Memorial Tournament

earlier this year before claiming silver at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing

Championships, which was his second successive medal in the high level event. The 24-year-

old fought at the 2013 AIBA World Championships where he was eliminated in the first round.

69KG – SIMEON CHAMOV – BULGARIA (BUL)

A key member of the Bulgarian squad, Chamov trains 20 hours a week at the CSKA Sofia

Boxing Club under Head Coach Mihail Takov. The Bulgarian reached the third round of the

2013 AIBA World Championships, and achieved a career best triumph in the 2014 European

Union Championships.

69KG – JOSHUA KELLY – ENGLAND (ENG)

Kelly made his major tournament debut at the Baku 2015 European Games, and earned a

bronze medal after a successful event. The AIBA Youth World Championships bronze medallist

is coached by his father Paul, and started boxing during childhood to gain confidence.

69KG – ADAM NOLAN – IRELAND (IRL)

Nolan quit his early boxing career to become a police officer, but while stationed in Bray he

found the gym of Peter Taylor, who is the coach and father of Irish boxing icon Katie Taylor.

Under Peter’s tutelage, Nolan competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games and the 2013

AIBA World Champions. The 28-year-old is a southpaw, and a fan of Liverpool football club.

69KG – EIMANTAS STANIONIS – LITHUANIA (LTU)

Stanionis won the AIBA August Boxer of the Month award after his gold medal at the EUBC

European Confederation Boxing Championships. The 21-year-old is one of Europe’s most

exciting talents, and currently competes in AIBA Pro Boxing. A competitor at the 2013 AIBA

World Championships, Stanionis is a huge basketball fan, while his boxing idol is Vasyl

Lomachenko.

69KG – YOUBA NDIAYE SISSOKHO – SPAIN (ESP)

Born in Senegal but now residing in Mallorca, Spain, Sissokho recently won bronze at the

EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships to showcase his emerging reputation as

a quality Welterweight. The tall fighter is coached by Rafael Lozano, and enjoys visiting the

cinema in his spare time.

69KG – CLARENCE GOYERAM – SWEDEN (SWE)

Goyeram emerged at the 2008 AIBA Youth World Championships and won his first Swedish

National Championships four years later. The 24-year-old competed at the 2013 AIBA World

Championships, and achieved a career best performance this summer at the EUBC European

Confederation Boxing Championships when he won bronze. The Swedish star cooks and listens

to music while relaxing, and is coached by Patrick Bogere.

69KG – YAROSLAV SAMOFALOV – UKRAINE (UKR)

Boasting an enviable 143-23 career record, Samofalov has enjoyed a successful 2015 where he

has won three medals, including bronze at the Baku 2015 European Games. The Ukrainian

began boxing at 12-years-old, and developed his aggressive style at senior level over the past

two years.

69KG – NATHAN WEBBER – AUSTRALIA (AUS) An orthodox fighter who mixes strength and skill, Webber has been boxing since he was 12-

year-old, and is currently trained by Glenn Rushton at the Stretton boxing club. Webber

describes himself as goal orientated, highly motivated and confident in his abilities, and the

current Australian National Champion has enjoyed tremendous sparring over the past year with

the likes of Jeff Horn and Leonardo Zappavigna.

69KG – JOSHUA NYIKA – NEW ZEALAND (NZL)

Despite having only competed in 28 elite bouts, Nyika has established himself as New

Zealand’s number one Welterweight. The fast fighter benefits from excellent footwork, and likes

to move around the ring to frustrate his opponents. Educated in Law, both Joshua and his

brother David won gold at the OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships, and the

intelligent Rick Ellis trained fighter has prepared intensely for Doha.

MIDDLEWEIGHT (75 KG)

75KG – ZIBANI CHIKANDA – BOTSWANA (BOT)

A soldier who trains at the Eastern Military Garrison, Chikanda is emerging as one of Africa’s

most successful Middleweights. The experienced 30-year-old has used his power very well this

year, with two significant TKO victories over Akililu Getachew and Lassina Keita.

75KG – HOSSAM HUSSEIN BAKR ABDIN – EGYPT (EGY)

After four appearances in AIBA Pro Boxing including a victory over Michel Tavares, Abdin

returned to AOB competition with a gold medal at the AFBC African Confederation Boxing

Championships. The Egyptian star reached the quarter-finals of the 2004 AIBA Junior World

Championships, and achieved the same result at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. A consistent

medal winner of the course of his career, the orthodox right handed fighter will be competing at

his third AIBA World Championships in Doha.

75KG – YAHYA EL-MEKACHARI – TUNISIA (TUN)

El-Mekachari has fond memories of competing in Doha after winning the 2011 Arabic

Championships in Qatar, and he advanced to the second round of the AIBA World

Championships later that year. A London 2012 Olympian, the 25-year-old secured a bronze

medal at the AFBC African Confederation Boxing Championships earlier this summer.

75KG – ARLEN LOPEZ CARDONA – CUBA (CUB)

A strong and powerful fighter, Cardona has firmly established himself as the number one Cuban

Middleweight, and won gold at both the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships

and the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. The 22-year-old has won his last seven AOB

tournaments, and has also excelled in the World Series of Boxing.

75KG – MARLO JAVIER DELGADO – ECUADOR (ECU)

Delgado is one of the most successful South American boxers in AIBA Pro Boxing, and has won

three of his five matches in the pro competition. The orthodox fighter returned to AOB events

with bronze at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships, and is in tremendous

form ahead of Doha 2015. Delgado also represented his country in the London 2012 Olympic

Games.

75KG – MISAEL URIEL RODRIGUEZ OLIVAS – MEXICO (MEX)

Combative and aggressive, Olivas gives 100% in every fight he competes in which will make

him a dangerous proposition in Doha. At just 21-years-old, the Mexican won two bronze medals

this year in the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships and the Toronto 2015

Pan American Games, and also contested in the World Series of Boxing.

75KG – ANTHONY CAMPBELL – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

Campbell has been boxing since 2002, and admits that the sport has helped him throughout his

life. The 25-year-old has competed in the World Series of Boxing since its very first season, and

has consistently performed well in USA national events.

75KG – ENDRI JOSE SAAVEDRA PINTO – VENEZUELA (VEN)

Having competed in 362 bouts at the age of just 24, Pinto is one of Venezuela’s most

experienced boxers. The right handed fighter began his fight training in 2001, and began to

establish himself in domestic and South American tournaments from 2010. After amassing a

winning record last season in the World Series of Boxing, the Jose Valor trained fighter won

bronze at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships.

75KG – VIKAS KRISHAN YADAV – INDIA (IND)

Yadav works as a police officer in Haryana, and pulling double duty has produced superb

results for the 23-year-old through his already decorated career. Just a year after he clinched

gold at the AIBA Youth World Championships, Yadav won bronze at the 2011 AIBA World

Championships. A London 2012 Olympian, the southpaw has already fought in Doha this year,

and is training very hard at the Bhiwani Boxing Club.

75KG – SAJAD MEHRABI – IRAN (IRN)

The multi-time Iranian National Champion is in excellent form this year, and was named the

Athlete of March by the Asian Boxing Confederation following his gold medal at the Fajr

Tournament. Mehrabi began boxing at 13, and studied at the Islamic Azad University of

Borujerd.

75KG – WAHEED ABDERREDHA WAHEED – IRAQ (IRQ)

Waheed fought at the 2009 AIBA World Championships and six years on, will return to the

grand stage in Doha. A tricky southpaw, the 32-year-old Iraqi won silver at the 2015 Doha

International Tournament after a narrow defeat to Australia’s Daniel Lewis. Waheed has named

his parents and his wife as the most influential people in his life.

75KG – ZHANIBEK ALIMKHANULY – KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ)

Alimkhanuly has earned a well deserved reputation as one of the most successful

members of the Astana Arlans World Series of Boxing Franchise, and he is also the reigning

AIBA World Championships Middleweight gold medalist. The decorated star began boxing aged

nine at a gym close to his childhood home. He prefers to fight at mid-range, where his fast

hands and power shots can be used to their full effect. Hard work, clear goals and self

confidence are attributes he believes any successful boxer should have, while his heroes

include Beijing 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist Kanat Islam.

75KG – BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIYEV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB)

An emerging talent who is competing in the first year of his elite career, Melikuziyev dominated

the Youth Middleweight division in 2014, when he won both the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic

Games and the AIBA Youth World Championships. The Maruf Akhmedov coached fighter is just

19-years-old, but proved he can compete at the senior level when he defeated current AIBA

World Champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly during his run towards ASBC Asian Confederation

Boxing Championships gold. Away from the ring, Melikuziyev enjoys reading books.

75KG – TRUONG DINH HOANG – VIETNAM (VIE) After a brace of consecutive Southeast Asian Games bronze medals, Hoang finally clinched

gold in the celebrated event this year, before reaching the quarter-finals of the ASBC Asian

Confederation Boxing Championships. 2015 represents a decade in the sport for the 24-year-

old Vietnamese athlete, who will be fighting in a major event outside of Asia for the very first

time.

75KG – ABDULLA ABDULRAHMAN AL-HADI – QATAR (QAT)

Born and raised in Doha, Al-Hadi will be fighting in his home city at the AIBA World

Championships. The 29-year-old Middleweight has been a fixture on the Asian boxing scene

over the past ten years, and won the Doha Open Championships last year.

75KG – KHAYBULA MUSALOV – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

Part of a fantastic generation of fighters to emerge from Dagestan, Musalov has won three

events this year, plus Baku 2015 European Games silver. The 25-year-old has experience of

high level competition after fighting in the World Series of Boxing Season IV final, while he

enjoys reading detective stories in his free time.

75KG – ZAAL KVACHATADZE – GEORGIA (GEO)

The Georgian has competed in the past two AIBA World Championships where he reached the

second round in both events. Kvachatadze has twice won bronze at the EUBC European

Confederation Boxing Championships.

75KG – ZOLTAN HARCSA – HUNGARY (HUN) Harcsa belongs to a boxing family, as his elder brother Norbert is also a member of the

Hungarian National Team. The 22-year-old memorably reached the quarter-finals of the London

2012 Olympic Games, and repeated that achievement a year later at the AIBA World

Championships. Early medals at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships and Youth

Olympic Games broadcasted Harcsa’s potential, and he is a fearsome Middleweight when on

top form.

75KG – MICHAEL O'REILLY – IRELAND (IRL)

O’Reilly pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the Baku 2015 European Games when he

defeated a tough field to claim gold in Azerbaijan. The Irish star was recently publicly honoured

in his hometown of Portlaoise after his summer achievements, where he was joined by Head

Coach Pat Ryan. He will be attending his first AIBA World Championships in Doha, but did

reach the quarter-finals of the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships.

75KG – SALVATORE CAVALLARO – ITALY (ITA)

After a successful youth and junior career, Cavallaro began 2014 with two impressive medals in

European AOB events, and has continued to excel since. The 20-year-old won bronze at the

EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships, and also clinched two victories last

season in the World Series of Boxing.

75KG – MAX VAN DER PAS – NETHERLANDS (NED)

A member of the MBR Hamm team in the Bundesliga, Van Der Pas has medalled in four

significant events this year, and arrives in Doha in tremendous form. A huge fan of cinema, the

Dutch fighter also takes inspiration from London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Katie

Taylor.

75KG – TOMASZ JABLONSKI – POLAND (POL) At 26, the strong Polish fighter is enjoying the most successful year of his career after winning

EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships silver, and earning six victories in the

World Series of Boxing for Rafako Hussars Poland. Jablonski reached the second round of the

2011 AIBA World Championships, and will be confident of improving on that performance in

Doha.

75KG – PETR KHAMUKOV – RUSSIA (RUS) Khamukov has already qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following an undefeated

season in the World Series of Boxing, and returned to AOB competition in style with gold at the

EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. Known for his devastating knockout

power, the 24-year-old Russian will be competing at his first major international event in Doha.

75KG – VALERII KHARLAMOV – UKRAINE (UKR)

Residing in Odessa and coached by Mihailo Serzhaniuk at the Kolos Boxing Club, Kharlamov

won his first Ukrainian National Championships in 2014, and reached the quarter-finals of the

EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. The 21-year-old is an entertaining

fighter who boxes with plenty of energy.

75KG – DANIEL LEWIS – AUSTRALIA (AUS)

Since winning the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011, Daniel Lewis has developed into one

of Australia’s most successful boxers, and he boasts AIBA World Championships experience

after competing in the 2013 edition. The Sydney star earned valuable experience of the

conditions in Qatar after triumphing at the 2015 Doha International Tournament, which should

serve as an advantage in the World Championships. Lewis only recently moved up to

Middleweight, but looks strong and confident at his new weight class.

75KG – JONATHAN KEAMA – PAPUA NEW-GUINEA (PNG)

Keama achieved one of the most emotional gold medals of 2015 after winning the Pacific

Games in his hometown of Port Moresby. Hailing from the rural inland villages of Central

Province, the 22-year-old initially showed talent in the sport of Volleyball, before switching to

boxing. Inside the ring, Keama is a rapid puncher who is equally adept at counter-attacking.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (81 KG)

81KG – ABDELHAFID BENCHABLA – ALGERIA (ALG)

The flagbearer of the Algerian delegation in the London 2012 Olympic Games, Benchabla lived

up to that honour by qualifying for the quarter-finals of that event. An incredibly resilient and

disciplined boxer, the 29-year-old has succeeded in every format of boxing. The winner of many

World Series of Boxing bouts, Benchabla has recently enjoyed success in AIBA Pro Boxing, and

is a veteran of two AIBA World Championships.

81KG – ABDELRAHMAN SALAH ARABY – EGYPT (EGY)

Araby won gold at the Doha International Tournament earlier this year, so will feel confident of

emerging victorious once more in Qatar. The Cairo based fighter has earned medals across

three continents this year, and is in the best form of his career.

81KG – HASSAN SAADA – MOROCCO (MAR)

A newcomer to the international scene, Saada consistently excelled at Youth level in Morocco,

and is one of the biggest success stories from the Chaouia B Boxing Club. Big things are

expected from the 21-year-old in the future, but after his bronze at the AFBC African

Confederation Boxing Championships, the future may be now.

81KG – MARCOS RUBEN ESCUDERO BESANA – ARGENTINA (ARG)

One of the most inexperienced boxers to qualify for Doha, Besana has only had 23 bouts in his

career, but his talent level earned him a bronze medal at the AMBC American Confederation

Boxing Championships. The 21-year-old also competed in the World Series of Boxing last

season, and is coached by Ivan Protti at the IMAD Boxing Club.

81KG – JUAN CARLOS CARRILLO – COLOMBIA (COL)

Carrillo has fought in over 400 bouts, and earned two bronze medals in the major American

tournaments this year. The Barranquilla born fighter enjoyed an amazing youth career where he

medalled at both the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships and the Singapore 2010 Youth

Olympic Games.

81KG – JULIO CESAR DE LA CRUZ – CUBA (CUB)

Unmatched on the world scene in recent years at Light Heavyweight, La Cruz has won the past

two AIBA World Championships in spectacular style, and the Cuban team captain earned a

quota for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through his World Series of Boxing success. At 26, the

Cuban is approaching his prime years, but stunningly lost a continental event when he was

defeated by Albert Ramirez in the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships.

Losing is not something La Cruz is used to, and he will be aiming for a third successive title in

Doha.

81KG – STEVE NELSON – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

Former U.S. Army veteran Steven Nelson has only been boxing since early 2010 after he took

up the sport to lose weight. Having only having competed in 10 bouts at the time, Nelson

entered the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, and made it all the way to the final of that event. Since

then, the naturally talented American has dominated the US Light Heavyweight scene, and now

has aspirations of winning a medal in the AIBA World Championships.

81KG – ALBERT RAMON RAMIREZ DURAN – VENEZUELA (VEN)

A fast and fluid left handed fighter, Duran enjoyed the greatest moment of his career thus far

when he eliminated the iconic Julio Cesar De La Cruz in the AMBC American Confederation

Boxing Championships. The Venezuelan has enjoyed an electrifying 2015, after winning silver

at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, and finishing as the fourth ranked Light

Heavyweight in Season V of the World Series of Boxing.

81KG – HASSAN SHAHINI – IRAN (IRN) At 27-years-old, Shahini is enjoying the most fruitful period of his career thus far, and won

bronze at the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships this summer. An entertaining

fighter who uses his excellent jab with intensity, Shahini has managed to successfully replace

AIBA Pro Boxing star Ehsan Rouzbahani in the Iranian squad.

81KG – ADILBEK NIYAZYMBETOV – KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ)

A London 2012 Olympic Games silver medalist and two-time AIBA World Championships

runner-up, Niyazymbetov will be hoping to finally win the gold medal in Doha following a brace

of consecutive final defeats to Cuba’s Julio Cesar De La Cruz. The current ASBC Asian

Confederation Boxing Championships and Incheon 2014 Asian Games Champion cites

Muhammad Ali and Roy Jones Jr as his boxing idols, and enjoys playing football in his spare

time.

81KG – KIM HYEONG KYU – KOREAN REPUBLIC (KOR)

Kyu fought at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships, before making the first of two AIBA

World Championships appearances a year later. The orthodox fighter trains at the Korea

National Sports University in Seoul.

81KG – ERKIN ADYLBEK UULU – KYRGYZSTAN (KGZ)

Part of a new generation of strong and powerful Asian Light Heavyweights, the tall Uulu uses

his reach effectively, and has a tremendous will to win. The two-time Kyrgyz National Champion

will be competing in his first major worldwide event in Doha, and is hoping to make his home of

Bishkek proud.

81KG – ALAALDIN AZIZ GHOSSOUN – SYRIA (SYR)

Ghossoun enjoyed a tremendous 2013 AIBA World Championships when he reached the third

round after defeating Hrvoje Sep and Osmar Bravo, and has consistently medalled in Asian

events since. Part of a boxing family, Ghossoun’s brothers Sumar and Mohammad are also

members of the Syrian National team.

81KG – ELSHOD RASULOV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB)

Rasulov enjoyed a tremendous teenage career when he won two AIBA Cadet World

Championships medals, plus gold at the 2004 AIBA Junior World Championships. His senior

career proved to be even more successful, peaking with a silver medal at the 2009 AIBA World

Championships, and a bronze in the 2011 edition. Doha 2015 will reflect the first time Rasulov

has competed at a World Championships since 2011, and he is keen to finally win gold in the

event.

81KG – HAKAN NURAYDIN – QATAR (QAT)

The Doha resident mixes his boxing career with life in the armed forces, and reached the

second round of the 2005 AIBA World Championships. A former Military World Championships

bronze medalist, Nuraydin will be a big fan favourite at the upcoming World Championships.

81KG – TEYMUR MAMMADOV – AZERBAIJAN (AZE) Formerly an incredibly successful Heavyweight, Mammadov moved down to Light Heavyweight

just before the Baku 2015 European Games, and soon won gold in his new weight class. The

tall fighter previously won two consecutive AIBA World Championships medals at Heavyweight,

plus a London 2012 Olympic Games bronze. Away from the ring, Mammadov enjoys watching

movies.

81KG – MIKHAIL DAUHALIAVETS – BELARUS (BLR)

A rugged fighter who loves fighting at close range, the 25-year-old Belarusian has established a

successful career in the World Series of Boxing for Azerbaijan Baku Fires. In AOB competition,

Dauhaliavets qualified for the 2011 AIBA World Championships and the London 2012 Olympic

Games.

81KG – HRVOJE SEP – CROATIA (CRO)

An incredibly popular boxer in Croatia, Sep has won 20 bouts in the World Series of Boxing,

while he has also lifted three WSB Team Trophies. Trained by Leonard Pijetraj, Sep is a

thoughtful orthodox boxer, who will be competing in his fourth AIBA World Championships, and

recently won bronze at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships.

81KG – JOSHUA BUATSI – ENGLAND (ENG)

Born to Ghanaian parents, Buatsi is an exciting Light Heavyweight prospect who has enjoyed a

very successful year. The 22-year-old won bronze at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing

Championships, plus two gold medals including the English National Championships.

Additionally, the fleet-footed English fighter made his World Series of Boxing debut for British

Lionhearts.

81KG – JOSEPH WARD – IRELAND (IRL)

Ward won the 2011 EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships at just 17-years-old,

and the southpaw sensation claimed his second title in that event earlier this year. Currently

competing in AIBA Pro Boxing, the Irish fighter has every punch in the book, and won bronze at

the 2013 AIBA World Championships. A former AIBA Youth and Junior World Champion, many

are expecting Ward to impress in Doha.

81KG – VALENTINO MANFREDONIA – ITALY (ITA)

Manfredonia was the best competitor for Italia Thunder in Season V of the World Series of

Boxing, and earned a Rio 2016 Olympic Games quota after his undefeated campaign. The 26-

year-old Italian later claimed Baku 2015 European Games silver, and looks to be in sensational

form ahead of his first AIBA World Championships.

81KG – PETER MULLENBERG – NETHERLANDS (NED)

A representative of the Dutch Army, Mullenberg is also a very successful boxer who recently

won silver in the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. Mullenberg is a former

two-time winner of the World Military Championships, and will be fighting at his fourth AIBA

World Championships in Doha after reaching the quarter-finals in 2013.

81KG – CEM KARLIDAG – TURKEY (TUR)

Karlidag lacks international experience, but is blessed with an industrious work ethic and a

tenacious style which frequently unsettles opponents. The 25-year-old is coached by

Muhammet Ali Kolu, and enjoys swimming and watching movies in his spare time.

81KG – OLEKSANDR KHYZHNIAK – UKRAINE (UKR)

One of Europe’s brightest Light Heavyweight prospects, Khyzhniak won the 2012 AIBA Youth

World Championships, and has emerged as a senior star after his exploits in the World Series

of Boxing. The 20-year-old earned bronze at the Baku 2015 European Games, and has a strong

and controlling jab.

81KG – PASEFIKA ITI IKITAU – AMERICAN SAMOA (ASA)

One of the youngest Light Heavyweight boxers who will be competing in Doha, the 20-year-old

Apia resident has enjoyed the best year of his career thus far, having medaled in three events

including the OCBC Oceania Confederation Boxing Championships.

81KG – AARON SPAGNOLO – AUSTRALIA (AUS)

Spagnolo started his boxing career in 2008, and won his first Youth National Championship just six months after he first stepped into the gym. Now 24, he has continued to impress in the elite ranks, and has won three gold medals over the past year. The Australian Light Heavyweight can punch powerfully with either hand, and has the ability to recover well in his fights.

HEAVYWEIGHT (91 KG)

91KG – CHOUAIB BOULOUDINAT – ALGERIA (ALG)

Vastly experienced, incredibly tough and popular all around Africa, the Algerian Heavyweight

was born in Constantine which was named by the Romans in honor of emperor Constantine the

Great. 10 World Series of Boxing wins, three AIBA Pro Boxing triumphs, plus two previous AIBA

World Championships visits make Bouloudinat a huge threat in Doha.

91KG – DAVID BAWAH AKANKOLIM – GHANA (GHA)

Akankolim trains at the Ghana Armed Forces in Accra, and is also a soldier away from the ring.

He began his career at the 2010 AIBA Youth World Championships, and also competed at the

2014 Commonwealth Games. The 22-year-old carries significant power, and could cause some

upsets in the upcoming AIBA World Championships.

91KG – ABDELDJALIL ABOUHAMADA – MOROCCO (MAR)

A tall and well conditioned fighter, Abouhamada fought at the 2013 AIBA World Championships,

and established a successful World Series of Boxing career with Morocco Atlas Lions. The 23-

year-old trains at the Kawakb Marrakech Boxing Club, and gained valuable international AOB

experience last year after competing in two competitions in Cuba.

91KG – YAMIL ALBERTO PERALTA JARA – ARGENTINA (ARG)

One of the most successful Heavyweight boxers in World Series of Boxing history, the

Argentine now competes in AIBA Pro Boxing. Blessed with a winning mentality, he was first

introduced to boxing through his uncle, who led him to the gym of the successful Raul Horacio

Balbi. The orthodox 24-year-old won bronze at the 2013 AIBA World Championships.

91KG – JUAN GONCALVES NOGUEIRA – BRAZIL (BRA) Due to standing 1.77 metres tall as a 12-year-old, the young Nogueira was introduced to boxing

by his best friend who invited him to a class at the Brazilian Olympic Center. Now 27, the

Brazilian fell in love with the sport and has medalled in many high profile events over the past

two years. Nogueira’s boxing heroes include Mike Tyson and Eder Jofr.

91KG – ERISLANDY SAVON COTILLA – CUBA (CUB)

As the nephew of three-time Olympic Champion Felix Savon, Erislandy had big shoes to fill

when he began his boxing career, but he has now firmly established himself as one of the best

Heavyweights in the world. Named the World Series of Boxing Season IV Boxer of the Year

after helping Cuba Domadores to the WSB title, Savon has won all 17 of his matches in the

team competition. The 2008 AIBA Youth World Championships gold medallist has never been

past the quarter-finals in his two previous AIBA World Championships, and is eager to rectify

that statistic in Doha.

91KG – JULIO CESAR CASTILLO TORRES – ECUADOR (ECU)

An entertaining and powerful Heavyweight, Torres thrilled audiences all over the world last

season in the World Series of Boxing, and won a deserved bronze medal at the AMBC

American Confederation Boxing Championships. The 27-year-old Ecuadorian southpaw fights

with plenty of movement, and the London 2012 Olympian will be competing in his fourth AIBA

World Championships.

91KG – JOSHUA TEMPLE – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

Temple is a highly rated prospect who turned down football scholarships from prestigious

American universities to establish his boxing career. The 22-year-old is a two-time Elite National

Champion, and performed well for USA Knockouts in Season V of the World Series of Boxing.

Trained by his father Will and guided by Al Mitchell, the tall Temple could be one to watch in

Doha.

91KG – REZA MORADKHANI – IRAN (IRN)

A powerful and strong competitor who recently won bronze at the ASBC Asian Confederation

Boxing Championships, Moradkhani is one of Iran’s most popular boxers. The 29-year-old will

be competing in his second AIBA World Championships, after reaching the second round in

2011.

91KG – IHAB DARWEISH AL-MATBOULI – JORDAN (JOR)

The second of six children to Palestinian refugees who settled in Baqa’a, his brothers Adel,

Faraj, Mohammad and Ahmad have all represented Jordan in different age groups at the

international level. The orthodox fighter was the first Jordanian boxer to compete at an Olympic

Games when he qualified for London 2012, and he won a gold medal at the Doha International

Tournament earlier this year. Al-Matbouli has reached the third round in three previous AIBA

World Championships.

91KG – VASILIY LEVIT – KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ)

The top ranked Heavyweight in Season V of the World Series of Boxing, Levit qualified for the

Rio 2016 Olympic Games through his exploits in the competition. Fast for a Heavyweight and

blessed with excellent stamina, Levit also offers strength, pressure and a clinical ability to finish

fights. Away from boxing, he enjoys reading about history, while his own boxing hero is Mike

Tyson. Doha 2015 will be his third AIBA World Championships, and his first in four years.

91KG – JAKHON QURBONOV – TAJIKISTAN (TJK)

Named the 2006 Boxer of the Year in Tajikistan following a gold medal at the Asian Games,

Qurbonov has competed in five previous AIBA World Championships, but has never been past

the second round of the event. A two-time Olympian, the Mirzo Shamsiyev and Parviz

Akhmedov coached boxer has been a high level operator for over a decade now, and will be

hoping his sixth World Championships can be his most successful yet.

91KG – RUSTAM TULAGANOV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB) A young Heavyweight who will turn 24 on the third competition day of Doha 2015, Tulaganov is

full of confidence after winning medals at four events in 2015 thus far. Educated in Tashkent at

the Uzbekistan State Institute of Physical Culture, Tulaganov reached the quarter-finals of the

2013 AIBA World Championships.

91KG – ABDULKADIR ABDULLAYEV – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

Educated at the Institute of Physical Culture, Abdullayev is one of the most successful

Heavyweight boxers in World Series of Boxing history, and underlined his AOB competition

credentials with gold at the Baku 2015 European Games. Fearsomely powerful, the 27-year-old

orthodox fighters enjoys watching movies away from the ring.

91KG – SIARHEI KARNEYEU – BELARUS (BLR)

The Belarusian won the 2014 World University Championships, and also claimed bronze at the

2011 AIBA World Championships. An established Heavyweight who frequently reaches the

latter stages of high profile events, the 26-year-old qualified for the London 2012 Olympic

Games quarter-finals, and has gained recent experience in the German Bundesliga.

91KG – PAUL OMBA BIONGOLO – FRANCE (FRA)

One of the youngest and most inexperienced Heavyweights who will be competing in Doha,

Biongolo has only fought in 46 bouts so far in his career. Despite his lack of ring time, the 19-

year-old won the Boxam Tournament earlier this year, and reached the quarter-finals of both

major European events this summer.

91KG – ROMAN FRESS – GERMANY (GER)

An emerging German talent, Fress emerged with a bronze medal at the 2009 AIBA Junior World

Championships, and also participated in the 2012 AIBA Youth World Championships. A boxer

with strong family ties, Fress has plenty of skill and resilience in the ring.

91KG – NIKOLAJS GRISUNINS – LATVIA (LAT)

The 31-year-old Latvian veteran reached the semi-finals of the 2015 EUBC European

Confederation Boxing Championships, and has previously competed in three past editions of

the AIBA World Championships.

91KG – ROY KORVING – NETHERLANDS (NED)

A keen football fan in his youth, Korving swapped sports aged eight when he received a

punching bag for his birthday. A former Sport & Exercise student, the 20-year-old has won two

tournaments this year, and is expected to impress in Doha.

91KG – IGOR JAKUBOWSKI – POLAND (POL)

One of the most successful Heavyweights in Season V of the World Series of Boxing,

Jakubowski is one of Poland’s most successful modern day boxers, and recently won silver at

the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. The Konin resident won five

tournaments in 2014, and reached the second round of the 2011 AIBA World Championships as

a Light Heavyweight.

91KG – YEVGENIY TISHCHENKO – RUSSIA (RUS)

An elegant southpaw with a powerful left hook, Tishchenko claimed silver at the 2013 AIBA

World Championships, and is being tipped by many boxing fans to improve on that

accomplishment in Doha. The 24-year-old Russian won five matches last season in the World

Series of Boxing, and clinched gold this summer at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing

Championships.

91KG – GEVORG MANUKYAN – UKRAINE (UKR)

Manukyan began his boxing career at 12-years-old, and reached the quarter-finals of the 2009

AIBA Junior World Championships. The Ukrainian has been a successful fixture on the

European Heavyweight scene over the past few years, and sealed bronze at the Baku 2015

European Games. A keen fan of tennis and football, Manukyan won his World Series of Boxing

debut in 2015 against a tough Russian opponent.

91KG – JASON WHATELEY – AUSTRALIA (AUS) A tall boxer with plenty of high level experience, Whateley won silver at the 2015 Doha

International Tournament earlier this year, and also fought in the 2013 AIBA World

Championships. Whateley mixes his own preparations by training other athletes, where he has

worked alongside elite swimmers and members of the AFL club Hawthorn.

91KG – DAVID NYIKA – NEW ZEALAND (NZE)

The younger member of the famous Nyika boxing brothers, David is only 20-years-old, but has

dominated a vast array of tournaments over the past year, including strong events in Warsaw,

Canberra, Glasgow, and Shokodra. A past competitor in both the AIBA Junior and Youth World

Championships, the in-form Nyika is in excellent form ahead of his first elite World event, and

believes he has the ability to compete with the best Heavyweights in the world.

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT (91+ KG)

+91KG – MOHAMED GRIMES – ALGERIA (ALG)

One of the strongest African boxers who will be competing in Doha, Grimes is the defending

Algerian National Champion and accumulated a brace of medals this summer in the AFBC

African Confederation Boxing Championships and the All Africa Games.

+91KG – MOHAMMED ARJAOUI – MOROCCO (MAR)

Arjaoui is one of the Morocco’s most popular athletes, and fought for the AIBA Pro Boxing

Super Heavyweight Championship earlier this year against Erik Pfeifer. The powerful 28-year-

old reached the quarter-finals of both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games, and

has competed in two AIBA World Championships.

+91KG – MICHAEL SEKABEMBE – UGANDA (UGA)

A serving army sergeant who trains at the People's Defence Forces Boxing Club, the 35-year-

old Sekabembe has been boxing for over half his life. Last year, the Super Heavyweight won

bronze at the Commonwealth Games, and claimed another podium place in the AFBC African

Confederation Boxing Championships. A former discus and javelin thrower, Sekabembe spends

his time away from the ring tending cassava and tomato gardens.

+91KG – RAFAEL DUARTE LIMA – BRAZIL (BRA)

A 13 year veteran inside the squared circle, Lima has enjoyed a successful 2015 after winning

bronze at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, and gold in the Pan American Games

Qualifier. The defending Brazilian National Champion has an aggressive style, and will be

competing in his first AIBA World Championships since 2007.

+91KG – SIMON KEAN – CANADA (CAN)

After competing as a linebacker on his high-school football team, Kean was forced to recover

from a car accident not long after which almost left him without a leg. After returning to fitness,

the Canadian reached the quarter-finals of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and won bronze

this summer at the AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships.

+91KG – LEINIER EUNICE PERO – CUBA (CUB)

A former AIBA Youth World Championships and Youth Olympic Games gold medalist, Pero is

also a two-time Pan American Games gold medalist in both the Heavyweight and Super

Heavyweight divisions. Pero won five matches in the World Series of Boxing last season, and

will be fighting in his first AIBA World Championships, His younger brother Dainier just won the

2015 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships.

+91KG – EDGAR ALBERTO RAMIREZ VARGAS – MEXICO (MEX)

Vargas has only just turned 20, and will be one of the youngest Super Heavyweights to compete

in Doha. The Mexico City fighter is light on his feet, and carries power in both hands. Following

a learning season in the World Series of Boxing for Mexico Guerreros and a bronze at the

AMBC American Confederation Boxing Championships, Vargas is looking to gain more

experience in the AIBA World Championships.

+91KG – EDGAR RAMON MUNOZ – VENEZUELA (VEN)

A boxer for over 22 years, Munoz carries considerable knowledge on his broad shoulders, and

is in superb form after silver medals at both the AMBC American Confederation Boxing

Championships and the 2015 Pan American Games. An orthodox fighter, Munoz competed at

the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and will be making his first AIBA World Championships

appearance since 2007.

+91KG – WANG ZHIBAO – CHINA (CHN)

One of the key members of China’s World Series of Boxing squad, Zhibao won two matches

last season, and returned to AOB competition with a superb silver at the ASBC Asian

Confederation Boxing Championships. Based in Heilongjiang, the tall 22-year-old has excellent

energy, and a fast right hook.

+91KG – SATISH KUMAR – INDIA (IND)

Coached by Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu at the SSCB boxing club, Kumar reached the quarter-

finals of the 2013 AIBA World Championships. The 26-year-old hails from Bulandshahar city in

Uttar Pradesh, where his father is a farmer, and his elder brother works in the Army. Kumar also

joined the Army in 2008, and began boxing a year later.

+91KG – HUSSEIN EISHAISH HUSSEIN IASHAISH – JORDAN (JOR)

Iashaish has only recently turned 20, and will be one of the youngest Super Heavyweights to

compete in Doha. Despite his tender years, the Amman based fighter has been training for five

years, and won gold at the 2015 Doha International Tournament to gain valuable experience of

the conditions in Qatar.

+91KG – IVAN DYCHKO – KAZAKHSTAN (KAZ)

Dychko has been a medal machine over the course of his decorated career, with a list of

accolades including a bronze and silver medal from consecutive AIBA World Championships,

plus a London 2012 Olympic Games bronze. The tall star also won the deciding match in

Season V of the World Series of Boxing for the Astana Arlans Franchise. Away from the ring, he

enjoys watching classic movies, and spending time with his daughter.

+91KG – BAKHODIR JALOLOV – UZBEKISTAN (UZB)

A confident and aggressive Super Heavyweight, Jalolov has won four tournaments this year in

Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Germany, and reached the quarter-finals of the ASBC

Asian Confederation Boxing Championships.

+91KG – MAHAMMADRASUL MAJIDOV – AZERBAIJAN (AZE)

One of the most dominant Super Heavyweight fighters on Earth, Majidov is a current AIBA Pro

Boxing fighter and the reigning two-time AIBA World Champion. The London 2012 Olympic

Games bronze medalist cuts an imposing figure in the ring, and will be among the favourites to

win gold again in Doha.

+91KG – FILIP HRGOVIC – CROATIA (CRO)

The most successful Super Heavyweight in World Series of Boxing history, the 23-year-old has

won 20 bouts in the competition, and qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after stopping

six opponents last season. The current European Champion reached the quarter-finals of the

2013 AIBA World Championships, and began his rise in boxing with the gold medal at the 2010

AIBA Youth World Championships.

+91KG – JOSEPH JOYCE – ENGLAND (ENG)

After an early sporting career which included rugby and athletes, Joyce began boxing at 22 after

hitting a punching bag at his university gym for the first time. The orthodox fighter graduated

with a degree in fine arts, and still regularly paints. Citing influences as diverse as Muhammad

Ali, Lennox Lewis, Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh, Joyce won the Baku 2015 European

Games, and earned six victories in Season V of the World Series of Boxing.

+91KG – TONY VICTOR JAMES YOKA – FRANCE (FRA)

A tall and charismatic Parisian, Yoka currently competes in AIBA Pro Boxing, and recently won

bronze at the Baku 2015 European Games. The former AIBA Youth World Championships

silver medalist and Youth Olympic Games winner competed at the 2013 AIBA World

Championships, and is an entertaining fighter to watch when on full form.

+91KG – MIKHEIL BAKTHIDZE – GEORGIA (GEO) Bakthidze fought at the 2013 AIBA World Championships, and won gold at the 2011 European

Championships in Turkey. A highly respected athlete in his native Georgia, the 27-year-old is

coached by Davit Tsiklauri and resides in Zestafoni. Away from the ring, Bakthidze enjoys

swimming.

+91KG – FLORIAN SCHULZ – GERMANY (GER)

Aged just 21, the talented German star has already won 58 bouts in his career, and earned a

career best silver at the EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships. Schulz has

been highly rated since winning bronze at the 2012 AIBA Youth World Championships, and was

introduced to the sport after his mother persuaded him to begin boxing.

+91KG – MIHAI NISTOR – ROMANIA (ROM)

Compact and stocky, Nistor is a four-time Romanian National Champion and a veteran of two

previous AIBA World Championships. The 24-year-old famously stopped London 2012 Olympic

Champion Anthony Joshua at the 2011 European Champions, and recently won the AIBA Pro

Boxing Super Heavyweight title.

+91KG – ALI EREN DEMIREZEN – TURKEY (TUR)

An AIBA Pro Boxing competitor with plenty of power, Demirezen has been boxing for ten years

and competed at the 2013 AIBA World Championships. The Turkish athlete has won medals at

many European events over the past two years, and enjoys swimming and reading in his leisure

time.

+91KG – JOSEPH GOODALL – AUSTRALIA (AUS)

After a hip injury curtailed his dreams of becoming an Australian rules footballer, Joseph

Goodall switched to boxing in 2009 and has been described as a potential top Heavyweight of

the future. Nicknamed Big Bad Joe, Goodall trains under decorated coach Glenn Rushton, and

the 23-year-old sparred last year with former world title challenger Alex Leapai.

+91KG – PATRICK MAILATA – NEW ZEALAND (NZE)

Born in Apia, Samoa but a representative of New Zealand, Patrick Mailata began boxing after

he injured his knee in rugby league, and just two years after his debut he narrowly lost to

Joseph Parker in the New Zealand National Olympic Trials. Mailata comes from a boxing family

as his father also competed in the sport, and the three-time National Champion takes inspiration

from former Heavyweight star David Tua.