Azerbaijani Professional Boxing Athletes Shine In Turkey

Azerbaijani athletes triumphed at the professional boxing fight series held in the Sakarya Province, Turkey, on August 30.

Azerbaijan’s Nijat Hasanov, who mounted the professional boxing ring for the first time, defeated Zaza Amiridze from Georgia and ended his debut game with a victory, while Rauf Aghayev claimed victory over Mitiko Shubitidze, also from Georgia. Both athletes represent a professional sports club based in Azerbaijan’s capital city known as Baku Fight Lab.

Baku Fight Lab's athletes, both men and women, have participated and won medals in national and international tournaments. The athletes are trained by club professionals who are world and European champions. The club is also registered by the Professional Boxing Federation of Azerbaijan, which resumed its activities earlier this year.

Earlier this year, professional boxing in Azerbaijan got a boost when the Azerbaijan Professional Boxing Federation held an election to choose a new president and at the same time upgrade its plans for the sport’s future in the Caspian country. Artyom Hasanov, who previously led Baku Fight Lab for roughly 10 years, was elected the president of the Azerbaijan Professional Boxing Federation.

Part of federation’s plan for the near-term is to bring in international expertise and seek cooperation with professional boxing's official record keepers. The president of the federation announced that they would cooperate with professional boxing organizations such as WBA, WBC, IBF, as well as the national federations of foreign countries and official boxing record and ranking keepers FIGHTFAX and BOXREC.

In addition, the Professional Boxing Commission was established under the federation to ensure that professional coaches, doctors, and other people pass qualifying exams, and that fights organized by marketing and promotion companies are in line with relevant rules.

With an aim to raise the profile of professional boxing in Azerbaijan and broadcast professional tournaments, officials in the federation are now working to strengthen cooperation with marketing and sports promotion companies. They believe cooperation with promotion companies will play an important role in the promotion and career growth of boxers, which will create opportunities for local fighters to become international professional boxing stars.