by Timur Utsayev, Grozny. Exclusively for VK
Grozny has held the first international championship for kickboxing in the North Caucasus. Boxers from Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Volgograd Region, Stavropol Territory, the hosts, Germans and Serbians, took part in the K-1 and low-kick fights, considered some of the most spectacular parts of professional kickboxing. The championship was held by the Russian Kickboxing Federation and the W5 Professional Kickboxing. Alexander Zagorsky (Russia) was the ring-announcer. Fights for the champion’s belt of Russia in the K-1 part of the W5 version, the low-kick part of the European W5 championship of 63.5 kg and the W5 world champion low-kick with the weight category under 76.2 kg were the main intrigue of the show.
A long queue of fans could be seen at the entrance of the sports complex. The Chechen kickboxers achieved 6 out of 7 possible victories. Hassan Khaliyev (low-kick, under 76.2 kg) became the W5 World Champion after a fight with Stefan Zhivkovich. He received a Lada-Priora as a gift from the Fund of Ahmad-Haji Kadyrov.
Khaliyev told VK that he dedicated the victory to the republic. The kickboxer reminded that he had met Zhivkovich at the world championship in Macedonia last year. Losing the previous year’s fight, Khaliyev won the return match. His brothers have become champions in other types of martial arts. Their family has 14 world champions.
Chechnya was represented by boxers from the Berkut Fight Club only. The professional club is yes than a year old. Director general of Berkut noted that it was a return match of Hassan Khaliyev, as it was at the Russian championship. Opponents of the Chechen boxers were disputing decisions of judges. “Victory was achieved with minimal advantage and strain at those championships. But we expected a revenge, we proved that the fight was not a mistake”, Ruslan Khamzayev said.
Vadim Ukraintsev, supervisor of the championship, Vice-President of the Russian Kickboxing Federation, Chief Coach of the Russian National Team, told VK that two boxers of Berkut won a gold medal each, becoming world champions in Scupi (Macedonia). “Chechnya is training the strongest athletes today, that is why such championship is held, that is why the W5 holds a competition”, Ukraintsev notes.
