The Astana Arlans is owned by the Kazakhstan Boxing
Federation (KBF). The KBF is the sport's national
governing body and unites 14 regional federations with a total of
around 20 000 registered boxers. The team is named after the alpha
male wolf - the leader of the pack - an animal that has been
admired and respected for centuries by the nomads of the Great
Steppe for its intelligence, strength and courage.
As a national governing body, the KBF is responsible for all the
administration, development and promotion of amateur boxing
throughout Kazakhstan. The KBF is a non-profit organisation and is
thus overseen by a board of directors. The Astana Arlans team is
managed by a dedicated team of staff under General Director Bolat
Mankenov, with Head Coach Beibut Yeszhanov overseeing the sporting
side of things.
The Astana Arlans qualified for the semi-finals as the best second
placed team overall, two points clear of Dolce &
Gabbana Milano Thunder, who had been hot on the Arlans' heels
for most of the season. In the tough Asian conference, however, the
Astana Arlans on the same number of points as European conference
leaders Paris
United, but won more individual bouts overall (44 compared with
39 for Paris United).
In the semi-finals, the team had to withstand an all-out assault
from the Los
Angeles Matadors on the first leg in the home ring at the
Daulet Sports Complex in Astana, with the Matadors sending their
strongest team on the long journey.
But on the night, 2007 World Champion Rau'Shee Warren was
the only Los Angeles boxer able to edge ahead to a win as the 24
year-old southpaw took a split decision victory. After that, the
home boxers showed their strength, with only half of the remaining
four bouts going the full distance. Mighty Kanat Slam, the Beijing
bronze medallist from China who assumed Kazakh nationality to join
the team, once again proved unstoppable as he achieved his third
win in four this season inside the 15 minutes.
On the return leg in Los Angeles, the Astana Arlans were undaunted
by the star-studded line-up of Hollywood celebrities cheering on
the home boxers. But the match was nevertheless much closer. After
2009 World Championship quarter-finalist Kanat Abutalipov opened
the scoring for the visitors to extend his unbeaten record for the
season, the Matadors replied with two consecutive wins to keep
their hopes of qualification alive.
But once light heavyweight Marat Moldagereyev took the light
heavyweight contest by unanimous decision, it was left to Istvan
Bernath to seal the Astana Arlans qualification for the WSB finals.
The Hungarian had been absent from the squad since week one, but
returned in style to win his second consecutive bout on only
his second match this season as he dismissed Javier "The Monster"
Torres on a split decision.