Canadians Kim Clavel and Sara Kali, USA Boxing’s Marlen Esparza Win as AIBA Preliminary Rounds Close

From AIBA:

Canadians Kim Klavel and Sara Kali impress as Women’s World Championship preliminary rounds draw to a close in Astana

May 23, 2016

Light flyweight top-seed Marlen Esparza began her quest for a second world title with a win over Korean Chorong Bak. Esparza, who moved down a weight for the championships, will be joined in the quarter-finals by Canadian Kim Klavel, who dug deep to win a close-run match with Romanian third-seed and two-time European Champion Steluta Douta in the last round.

Defending champion and home favourite Nazym Kyzaibay reached the next round in convincing fashion against Sweden’s Lise Sandebjer, where she will meet runner-up two years ago in Jejum, India’s Sarjubala Shamjetsabam. The Philippines’ 2012 World Champion Josie Gabuco also progressed thanks to a strong performance against Volha Lushchyk of Belarus.

“After my World Championship title in Jeju I moved up to the flyweight class but returned to my category in recent weeks. There is a difference in speed between the two, and I feel I improved on my first bout, so I am satisfied,”

said Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay after her win.

At light welterweight, Kellie Harrison looked utterly focused and composed as she recovered from losing the first round to comfortably outpoint Germany’s Cindy Rogge. Britain’s Sandy Ryan was equally in control of her bout against Russian Daria Abramova, but another tough test lies ahead in the form of China’s Wenlu Yang for a place in the Semi-Finals.

Chinese talent Wenlu Yang’s win over the American World Youth Champion Jajaira Gonzalez was the surprise of the afternoon session, while Canada’s four-time National Champion Sara Kali again looked strong as she defeated North Korea’s Kyong Ok Pak. Kali will meet Ukraine’s in-form Anna Lysenko in Tuesday’s Quarter-Final.

The session was wrapped up by the heavyweights, with American Shadasia Green going through to a Quarter-Final match-up against Russian top seed Zenfira Magomedalieva. Azeri Aynur Rzayeva comfortably overcame Indian Seema Poonia and will face Kazakhstan’s second seed Lazzat Kungeibayeva.