Men’s 65 kg Category Recap – 2025 IWF World Championships, Førde, Norway

A Clash of Power and Precision in Førde

Day three of the 2025 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Førde, Norway, delivered one of the most electrifying battles of the tournament. The men’s 65 kg category – an event stacked with world record holders, comeback stories, and emerging stars – became a dramatic test of composure, precision, and raw power.

The Category in Context

After the 2024 Olympic cycle reshaped weight classes, the 65 kg men’s division has become one of the most competitive battlegrounds in modern weightlifting. With record standards reestablished at 148 kg in the snatch and 322 kg in the total, and with Hampton Morris’s 181 kg clean & jerk standing as the current world record, this class sits at the heart of the sport’s technical and tactical drama.

Meet the Athletes

OZBEK Muhammed Furkan (TUR) – The Turkish powerhouse and former 73 kg lifter cut down to 65 kg chasing a world title. Known for his explosive leg drive and near-flawless jerk, Özbek arrived in Førde as the favorite – strong, disciplined, and openly aiming for a world record.

MORRIS Hampton Miller (USA) – The American standout and Olympic bronze medalist arrived in Førde as the world record holder in the clean & jerk (181 kg). After his historic performance at the Paris 2024 Games, Morris continued to refine his technique under his father and coach, Trip Morris, showing maturity and focus that reflected his evolution into one of the sport’s top lifters.

MOSQUERA VALENCIA Francisco Antonio (COL) – A two-time world champion, the Colombian legend returned after winning a legal appeal that cleared him of doping accusations. Determined to reclaim his legacy, Mosquera brought charisma and experience to the platform.

MUHAMAD Aznil Bin B. S. (MAS) – Representing Malaysia, Aznil’s sharp pull and efficient technique made him a dark horse. Though undersized for the class, his fight and flair kept the crowd’s eyes on him.

IRAWAN Eko Yuli (INA) – The evergreen Indonesian, four-time Olympian, and former world medalist, still battling at 36 years old. His experience and precision remain unmatched among veterans.

BARDALEZ TUISIMA Luis David (PER) – Known for his consistency and quiet determination, Bardalez brought Latin energy and unshakable focus, a staple for Peru’s growing team.

MUTHUPANDI RAJA (IND) – India’s hope in the men’s categories, Raja entered with a strong national record and fierce confidence.

ADVENTINO Geovani L. (INA) – Another Indonesian talent, debuting at Worlds. A rising prospect known for his solid posture and disciplined technique.

HARDAL Ferdi (TUR) – A promising lifter from Turkey’s next generation. Despite a strong snatch, his clean & jerk campaign would end abruptly with no successful lift.

The Snatch Session: A Game of Nerves

The snatch opened with rhythm and tension in equal measure. Early lifters like Raja (IND) looked composed, making 130 kg cleanly, while Bardalez (PER) went further, securing 134 kg on his second attempt with precise timing and calm execution. Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil set a positive tone with 135 kg, hitting the bar crisply and roaring toward his coaches – one of the most charismatic moments of the morning.

The return of Francisco Mosquera (COL) drew huge cheers; his 130 kg opener was textbook, perfectly timed and smooth overhead. However, he couldn’t build on it – missing 134 kg and 135 kg as the bar slipped behind each time. Despite the failed attempts, the crowd celebrated his comeback with loud applause, recognizing the heart of a two-time world champion.

Eko Yuli Irawan (INA) – ever the veteran – showed trademark composure throughout his series. After two missed attempts, he came back with perfect timing to secure 137 kg on his third lift, drawing appreciative applause from the crowd. 

Then came the heavy artillery. Hampton Morris (USA) opened at 131 kg but missed slightly forward. On his second attempt at 133 kg, the crowd erupted into a full-volume “Come on, Hemp!” – and this time, he nailed it. The bar locked solid overhead, the arena roared, and his father-coach, Trip Morris, pounded the platform boards in celebration. 

And when Muhammed Furkan Özbek (TUR) finally entered, the tension spiked. Opening confidently at 140 kg, he followed with a smooth 143 kg and then sealed the snatch session at 145 kg – each lift crisp, stable, and perfectly timed. No records were at stake, but his technical dominance was unmistakable; he looked untouchable from start to finish.

🏅 Snatch Medalists

🥇 OZBEK Muhammed Furkan (TUR) – 145 kg
🥈 Dimov Ivan Petkov (BUL) – 137 kg
🥉 MORRIS Hampton Miller (USA) – 133 kg

The Clean & Jerk Session: Fireworks and Heartbreak

The clean & jerk began with intensity. Early lifters like Raja (IND) and Bardalez (PER) fought bravely – Raja nailing 169 kg for a personal best, Bardalez steady at 165 kg.

Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil Bin B. S. opened strong with 166 kg, nailing his first attempt cleanly and confidently. However, he was unable to improve on that success, missing his next two lifts. 

The veteran Eko Yuli Irawan showed why he’s a legend: 163 kg was effortless, his front squat rock solid. But 167 kg proved too heavy, marking perhaps the closing of an era.

Colombia’s Mosquera brought energy back to the arena. After hitting 170 kg, he called for 175 kg and made it with a roar – his signature “Colombian stomp” echoing through the floorboards. The crowd adored it.

Then the medal race exploded into life. Hampton Morris opened confidently at 178 kg, securing a solid lift that sent the American section of the crowd into celebration. He then made two bold attempts at 183 kg to set a new world record, but both narrowly slipped away – just short of history this time. Still, his performance reaffirmed his status as one of the sport’s premier clean & jerk specialists.

But then came Özbek. Starting at 172 kg, he added 176 kg, then boldly called for 179 kg – enough for the gold and a new championship total. The lift was a masterpiece: deep clean, lightning jerk, absolute control. He slammed the bar down, arms wide, as the Turkish flags waved across the arena.

🏅 Clean & Jerk Medalists

🥇 PAK Myong Jin – 180 kg
🥈 OZBEK Muhammed Furkan (TUR) – 179 kg
🥉 MORRIS Hampton Miller (USA) – 178 kg

Total Results – Medals and Recap

Records and Highlights

OZBEK Muhammed Furkan set a new world record total of 324 kg, lifting 145 kg in the snatch and 179 kg in the clean and jerk. Her powerful performance redefined the limits of her category and cemented her status among the world’s best weightlifters.

The most emotional moment came from Hampton Morris, who captured bronze, once again proving his resilience and skill against the world’s best.

Elsewhere, Mosquera’s comeback earned a standing ovation, while Malaysia’s Aznil delighted fans with his charisma and clean, technically precise lifting.

Final Thoughts: A New Era of the 65 kg Class

The Men’s 65 kg event in Førde embodied everything weightlifting should be – intense rivalries, stories of redemption, and breathtaking displays of human strength. Özbek’s triumph solidified Turkey’s dominance in the lighter men’s categories and Morris wrote one of the great American comeback stories of the decade.

The 65 kg division has now firmly established itself as a marquee category, bridging the speed of featherweights and the strength of middleweights. Fans left the arena buzzing – already talking about rematches and future record attempts.

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