Daniyar Yeleussinov (Kazakh Thunder) boxer

Daniyar Maratovich Yeleussinov (born 13 March 1991) is a Kazakh professional boxer. As an amateur he competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, winning a gold medal in 2016. He also won gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games; the 2013 World Championships; and silver at the 2015 World Championships.Yeleussinov began boxing in 1999 and is trained by his father Marat Yeleussinov. Yeleussinov kickstarted his career with gold in the 2010 Asian Games, and enjoyed a remarkable 2013 when he triumphed in both the AIBA World Championships and the Asian Championships. Twice named the AIBA Elite Men’s Boxer of the Year, he takes inspiration from legendary figures including Serik Konakbayev, Bekzat Sattarkhanov, Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard, and enjoys playing football, hockey and table tennis in his spare time.Going into the 2016 Olympics, the captain of the Kazakhstan Boxing Team was the favorite to win his division, and proved his worth by winning all of his bouts via dominant 3-0 decisions including a win over undefeated top British prospect, Josh Kelly in the 2nd round.His style has been compared to Vasyl Lomachenko and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as he has outstanding hand and foot speed, he works off angles, has an impeccable defense and has tremendous power in both hands. Yeleussinov has continued his country's domination in one of boxing’s glamour divisions as he is the 4th straight Kazakhstan boxer to win gold in the welterweight division, and he is the first of those Olympic champions to turn professional. “When I was coming up, I looked up to the welterweights who won gold medals before me. Bakhtiyar Artayev, Bakhyt Sarsekbayev, and Serik Sapiyev were my idols,” said Yeleussinov. “I know if they ever turned professional, all three of them would have been world champion, as well as pound for pound one of the best. By signing with my management team, I know they will lead me to the pros properly, and give me the opportunity to show that Kazakhstan not only produces the best welterweights in the amateurs but also the best welterweights in the professional ranks!”2011 (as a light welterweight)