#YasarDogu2018

Chamizo Outlasts Burroughs in Epic Shootout to Win Yasar Dogu Gold Medal

Saturday, July 28, 2018 - 17:26 By Eric Olanowski

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (July 28) - Nearly four months ago, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) posted a photo on Instagram with the caption “If you want to be the king, you have to beat the king.” Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) did just that on Saturday, getting his revenge against the London Olympic champion in front of a sold out Bağcılar Olympic Sport Hall in Istanbul, Turkey.

Chamizo, the two-time world champion was looking to avenge his loss to Burroughs from May’s Beat the Streets in New York City. In that match, Chamizo commanded the early 4-0 lead but was outscored 6-1 in the final four minutes of the bout, losing the match, 6-5. 

Saturday’s bout kicked off a little differently than the outdoor “ice skating” match in New York, as Burroughs scored the match's first point, nearly grabbing a takedown from a low single, but settled for a step out point. The American coaching staff thought Burroughs should have been awarded the takedown and threw the challenge cube. The original call on the mat was confirmed, and Chamizo was awarded a point for the lost challenge, giving the Italian the 1-1 lead on criteria. 

With 45 seconds left in the opening period, Burroughs, the four-time world champion picked up the pace and forced the referees to put Chamizo on the activity clock. The American shot a double, came up to a single and picked up step out point, taking the 2-1 lead into the final three minutes.

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) defeated five-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), 10-10 to win the Yasar Dogu. (Photo by Martin Gabor) 

Chamizo surrendered the bouts first takedown after Burroughs snagged his heavy stepping left foot with a low single, extending his lead to 4-1. 

Down by three, Chamizo scored a reversal, cutting Burroughs’ lead to 4-2. But, not before the Italian corner threw the challenge cube, questioning if Burroughs secured the takedown before scoring the reversal. Once again, the referees came together and confirmed the call on the mat, awarding Burroughs a point for the lost challenge, giving him the 5-2 lead. 

After giving up his second step out of the match, Chamizo, who is known for his defense scored his first takedown and cut the Olympic champions lead to 6-4 with one minute remaining in the final period. 

The Cuban turned Italian increased his sense of urgency after Burroughs extended his lead to 8-4 with his second takedown of the bout. 

Chamzio, with his cat-like reflexes, found himself fighting off a Burroughs double, but turned his defense into offense, exposing the American and picking up four points on the out of bounds line, ultimately taking the 8-8 lead on criteria. 

The Rio bronze medalist closed out the bout with his third takedown and took the 10-8 lead. Burroughs would score the final two points, but Chamizo held criteria and was victorious, 10-10. 

With that win, Chamizo evens up the series at one apiece. The next time these two could potentially meet would be in October at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

RESULTS
57kg 
GOLD - Thomas GILMAN (USA) df. Dzmichyk RYNCHYNAU (BLR), 12-5 

BRONZE - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Taras MARKOVYCH (UKR), 10-6
BRONZE - Vicky VICKY (IND) df. Armen ARAKELIAN (UKR), 9-7 

65kg
GOLD - Mehran NASIRIAFRACHALI (IRI) df. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) 

BRONZE - Madiyar BURKHAN (KAZ) df. Hassan MORADGHOLIEI (IRI), 14-9 
BRONZE Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) df. Andrii SVYRYD (UKR), 10 - 0

74kg
GOLD - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)

BRONZE - Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ) df. Saeid DADASHPOURKERIKALAEI (IRI), 4-4
BRONZE - Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Nurykan AZAMAT (BLR), 3-2 

86kg
GOLD - David TAYLOR (USA) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), via fall 

BRONZE - Boris MAKOEV (SVK) df. Ahmet BILICI (TUR) 
BRONZE -  Fatih ERDIN (TUR) df. Omar ZIANTDINOV (RUS), 12-2 

97kg
GOLD -  Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) df. Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI), 10-0 

BRONZE -  Fatih YASARLI (TUR) df. Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR), 1-1
BRONZE - Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) df. Riza YILDIRIM (TUR), 11-0 

Women’s Wrestling 
50kg 
GOLD - Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Sarra HAMDI (TUN), 10-0 

BRONZE -  Semkiv ILONA (UKR) df. Ritu RITU (IND), 13-7  
BRONZE -  Georgina Suzana SEICARIU (ROU) df. Ciricu EMILIA (MDA), 3-1  

55kg
GOLD -  Pinki PINKI (IND) df. Olga SHNAIDER (UKR), 6-3  

BRONZE -  Nurufe DUMAN (TUR) df. Siwar BOUSETTA (TUN), 8-0 

59kg
GOLD - Olena KREMZER (UKR) df. Sofiia BODNAR (UKR), 4-2 

BRONZE -  Sangeeta BALALI (IND) df. Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR), 14-6 

65kg
GOLD -  Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df. Netreba IRYNA (AZE), 14-3  

BRONZE - Geeta GEETA (IND) df. Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL), 3-0 
BRONZE -  Mariia ILCHYSHYN (UKR) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), via injury 

72kg
GOLD - Beste ALTUG (TUR) 
SILVER - Rajni RAJNI (IND) 
BRONZE - Neslihan ULUSOY (TUR)

#WrestleTirana

Proud to Break Karelin's Record: Says Kayaalp After 13th European Gold

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 21:34 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 21) -- Soon after he broke Aleksandr KARELIN's record of 12 European Championships gold medals, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) was asked to go through the journey of winning 13 European gold medals in his career.

Kayaalp gave a smirk before going on to replay his journey from his first European Championships title in 2010.

"When you look back, you realize you’ve made 15 finals," Kayaalp said after winning the 130kg gold medal in Tirana. "Back then, I was just thinking whether I could win one or two medals. But then, making the final every time at the European Championships, it’s like a child being born and growing up to 15 years old.

"That’s how long this journey has been. It’s difficult. It requires great consistency. It requires respect for what you do."

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READ MORE: Kayaalp's 13 - New Gold Standard in Europe

Kayaalp's consistency led him to 15 European Championships finals from which he won 13, taking him past Karelin's record. Apart from 2026, Kayaalp won gold in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010.

"It’s an incredible feeling," he said. "This was my 15th final, and in my 15th final, I achieved my 13th title. I truly believe I’ve set a record that will be very difficult to break. This title is especially valuable to me because achieving such long-term and consistent success -- especially in Europe, where there are very strong nations -- is not easy. I’m very proud to have broken such a big record."

READ MORE: Riza KAYAALP Breaks Karelin's 26-Year Old Record 

Wrestling Tirana for the record, Kayaalp won four bouts, including a 1-1 criteria win against Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) bruised Kayaalp with aggressive wrestling.

"The matches were not easy. I had tough matches," he said. "One of my matches ended 1–1. In the semifinal, I can say I was subjected to some disrespect from a strong opponent in a very intense bout. But compared to those, the final match was more meaningful for me."

WATCH: All of Kayaalp's 13 European Gold Medals

But the final followed a different script as Kayaalp used his gut-wrench to beat Darius VITEK (HUN), 7-1, and finally claim the gold after falling short in 2024 and missing the tournament in 2025.

"When it became 7-0, well, I’m an athlete who doesn’t like to concede points," he said. "I don’t like giving points away, so I managed to protect that score. I can say I went through the second period quite comfortably, and having a 7–0 lead helped."

The 16-year dominance in Europe has taken a big part of Kayaalp's career but the five-time world champion believes that his commitment sets an example for the young wrestlers in Turkiye. 

"This comes from the respect I have for wrestling," he said. "If I’m going to do this, I have to do it at the highest level. I believe this success came because I always aimed to be the best. I’ve always done it with love.

"There are tens of thousands of wrestlers in Turkiye. We’ve been able to set an example for them. That’s very important. There are also many people around the world who look up to us."

WATCH: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs Darius VITEK (HUN)

Though they were not present in Tirana, Kayaalp dedicated his title to his wife and daughter. He shared that when he was away from wrestling, his daughter would pray for his return to the mat.

"[I want to dedicate this medal] to my wife and daughters, who have always been by my side through both good and bad times," he said. "To my family, to my father, to everyone who loves us, to my coaches, my fellow athletes, and to the Turkish people. I dedicate this great success to all of them."