Islam Timurziev

Islam Yahyayevich Timurziev ( _ru. Ислам Яхьяевич Тимурзиев) (born January 9, 1983 in Nazran, Ingushetia) is a Russian amateur boxer best known to win the European superheavyweight title in 2006.

Career

Timurziev started boxing in 1996.He is a skilled offensive fighter with impressive power in both hands but has defensive weaknesses.

He won the U-17 European Championship in 1999, and the Junior European Championships in 2001.

He added the military world title in 2003, and won the 2004 Russian national title, but only afterhe helped his national team winning the Nations World Cup by beating Cuban superstar Odlanier Solis (Olympic Champion at 201 lbs) on points. Later that year he was out with cancer, his compatriot Roman Romanchuk participated in the world championships.

2006 he made a comeback claiming the European title with wins over Roberto Cammarelle, Kubrat Pulev and Robert Helenius.At the World Cup in Baku he was pulled out by his corner in a rematch by his nemesis Odlanier Solis. This also granted Cuba a 6-5 win of the cup.

2007 saw him in bad form early, he even lost in the Russian championships against the unsung Denis Sergeyev (19:22).

But at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago he reached the semifinals among others with several first round wins and a points victory over American Michael Hunter. He was unable to advance further, suffering from the acute appendicitis, thus granting Roberto Cammarelle a win on walkover, and earning the bronze medal.

He was regarded as the favorite at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in his weightclass as the Cubans were lacking a star in this class after Solis had defected. However he was defeated by Great Britain's David Price through a knockout in the second round.

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpCgzC_YenU Clip of the second fight with Solis]
* [http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=11759&more=1 Article]