Five years after he became the youngest wrestler ever to win a freestyle world title – and two years after he finished third in the world – Bo Bassett has another shot at gold.
The Bishop McCort Catholic graduate capped a dominant day at the Under-20 freestyle wrestling World Championships Friday in Bratislava, Slovakia, by pinning Russia’s Zalimkhan Umarov in the semifinals.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Bassett, who will face Japan’s Takuto Osedo for the world title at noon Saturday. “I think everything happens for a reason. I lost to Japan in 2024, and now I get to wrestle Japan in the ‘26 finals.”
Bo Bassett
The United States' Bo Bassett (right) battles Turkey's Haci Zade in a 65-kilogram bout during the 2026 U20 World Championships Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Bassett’s remarkable run through the 65-kilogram bracket featured two technical falls and a pair of pins – all in the first period. Bassett outscored his opponents 30-4 on the day.
Osedo has been impressive as well, outscoring his opponents 37-2 on his way to the finals, including an 11-0 technical fall over Canada’s Karson Brown, a four-time Ohio state high school champion who committed to wrestle for Pitt before flipping to Ohio State. Osedo beat Poland’s Ivan Oksiuk 6-2 in the semifinals.
“He’s been putting on a show, I’ll tell you that,” Bassett said of Osedo.
“I don’t know much about him.
“When you’re in an international event, it’s almost two different tournaments. It didn’t make sense to watch the other side yet.”
Bassett plans to watch video of Osedo before the finals.
“It’s all about understanding how he’s scoring,” he said. “He seems to be very good in all areas. He’s very good in par-terre on top, which to me, is exciting. It’s a challenge.”
Bassett cruised through his side of the bracket, although he did give up the opening takedown in his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts.
The 2021 age-level world champion and 2024 bronze medalist from Windber responded quickly against Umarov. He used a snapdown for a match-tying takedown, then took advantage as Umarov tried an ill-conceived roll. Basset caught the Russian on his back and held him there for the fall in 1:27.
“When you wrestle a Russian, you’ve got to expect anything,” Bassett said. “I was running down a cradle. He was going to give up the cradle or try to make something happen. He elected to try to jump over.”
After the fall, a stunned Umarov slapped the mat in disgust, stayed on his knees for 30 seconds after the pin and then refused to shake Bassett’s hand.
Bassett also fell behind early in his quarterfinal bout, then proceeded to score 12 unanswered points to beat Turkey’s Haci Zade.
“When I fall behind, I tell myself, ‘Long match, nothing changes,’ ” Bassett said.
The Turkish wrestler scored the opening takedown, but his lead lasted just 15 seconds as Bassett responded with a pair of quick takedowns, including a four-pointer. Zade challenged the four-point ruling, but the call was upheld, giving Bassett a seventh point.
The video review took longer than the remainder of the match, as Bassett scored a quick step-out point, then added a snapdown and gut-wrench turn for a 12-2 victory.
His match against Zade, which lasted 2:31, was his longest of the tournament.
Bassett was ruthlessly efficient in beating Kazakhstan’s Yeraly Askerbek 11-0 in the first round. The three-time PIAA champion scored on all four of his leg attacks with three takedowns and a step-out point.
A single-leg attack and a cartwheeling turn gave Bassett a 4-0 lead in the opening 20 seconds, and a step-out point made it 5-0. Bassett finished his third shot for a takedown and added a trapped-arm gut-wrench for a 9-0 lead. A single-leg takedown closed out the victory by technical superiority.
Against Azerbaijan’s Bashir Verdiyev, Bassett took a 1-0 lead with a step-out point, then converted a single-leg attack into a double-leg finish.
After adding another takedown, Bassett pinned the Azerbajani with a Turk.
Ryan Burton, who is Bassett’s roommate at Virginia Tech, lost in the 79-kilo semifinals Friday. Their Hokies teammate, Aaron Seidel, beat Kazakhstan’s Bekassyl Assambek 7-0 for the world championship at 61 kilograms.
The United States’ Isaiah Cortez (57) also qualified for Saturday’s finals, while Penn State recruit Jayden James will begin his quest for gold Saturday by taking on Slovakia’s Samuel Vokal.
Leave a Comment