Indian Boxing League: Mandeep Jangra's comeback win helps North East Rhinos beat Punjab Panthers, seal semi-final berth

New Delhi: Egrashev Timur won at the most crucial moment to help NE Rhinos beat Punjab Panthers 4-3 and claim the second spot ahead of the semifinals in the Indian Boxing League on Tuesday. The win helped Rhinos (19 points) set up a semifinal battle on Friday with Panthers. [caption id=“attachment_7796461” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Mandeep Jangra defeated Yashpal 4-1 in 69kg category. @bigboutleague[/caption] Punjab Panthers and Bombay Bullets finished with 18 points each but by virtue of having earned more judges points in their five matches, Panthers finished ahead of Bombay Bullets at third place. Bombay Bullets will meet Gujarat Giants (22 points) in the first semifinal on Thursday. Odisha Warriors (16) and Bengaluru Brawlers (12) are the two teams that would pack their bags after the league stage. Ambeshori Devi Huidra (youth women’s 57kg), Mandeep Jangra (69kg) and skipper Nikhat Zareen (women’s 51kg) picked up the three points for Rhinos. Ergashev Timur, who lost each of his three 91kg bouts before Tuesday, delivered with a determined rally against Big Bout debutant, 2017 national bronze medallist Sagar Chikara. Despite a bloodied nose, the 20-year-old Uzbek stepped up the aggression and landed several straight punches on a fast-tiring Sagar Chikara’s face to impose a standing count in the second round and another in the third to force the referee to stop the contest. He was a picture of single-minded purpose as he overcame a sluggish first round. The Nikhat Zareen-led NE Rhinos became favourites to win the match when it became known that Punjab Panthers captain, the legendary MC Mary Kom, had been advised rest owing to a bad back. However, a smart decision by Darshana Doot, nominated to lead the team on Tuesday, balanced the contest. With Argentina’s Francisco Veron boasting of a 3-0 record for the Rhinos in the 75kg class, it was no surprise that his bout with Rakesh Kumar was blocked. Surprisingly, the Panthers picked Rakesh Kumar ahead of the seasoned Manoj Kumar. But it was their good fortune that they were able to keep Francisco Veron away from the ring. NE Rhinos drew first blood through Ambeshori Devi Huidram who beat back a second round surge by Sapna Sharma to earn a 4-1 verdict in the youth women’s 57kg battle. However, Punjab Warriors pulled one back through Uzbek Youth Olympic Games gold medallist Abdulmalik Khalakov’s impressive victory over southpaw Mohammed Etash Khan in the 57kg bout. Former World Championship finalist Sonia Lather, returning to serve Punjab Panthers after winning the South Asian Games gold, beat recently crowned women’s national champion in the 64kg class, with a smart approach. She leaned back to avoid Pwilao Basumatary’s powerful straights and used a combination of hooks to score and secure a unanimous verdict. If that win confirmed a semifinal place for the Panthers, Mandeep Jangra’s come-from-behind 4-1 win over Yashpal in the 69kg ensured a berth in the last four stage for the Rhinos. Yashpal claimed the first round with his energy but Mandeep Jangra used his unconventional style to great effect to be able to extend his run of victories to five from as many bouts. Panther’s PL Prasad made the most of southpaw Laldwin Mawia’s hesitation to win the 52kg bout. Mawia, who won his opening bout against Ashish Insah (Brawlers) and lost to Amit Panghal (Giants), had been declared winner in his clash with Jasurbek Lapitov when the Odisha Warriors boxer had floored him with a blow below the belt. With Zareen romping to a unanimous verdict against Darshana Dhoot, NE Rhinos were left with the task of winning the point from the 91kg bout. For someone who had lost all his bouts, Ergashev Timur looked like he would end up with another loss when Sagar Chikara held the upper hand in the opening round, but the young Uzbek stepped up the pace and turned the tables.