TOKAREV, ISMAILOV, MARTIROSIAN WIN!
By Alexey Sukachev
fightnews.com
October 7, 2008
Four local shows were staged on Friday and Saturday nights in different
regions of Russia. While a temporary center of Russian pro boxing made
its way to the north-western part of the country (events in Vyborg
and St. Petersburg), tournaments in Kazan and Ramenskoye were also
marked with new faces and attractive encounters.
Vyborg
Last Saturday Alexander Yagupov of Colosseum Box Promotions
conducted his hugest tournament this year which featured several
heated match-ups between established fighters and a number of young
guns in the undercard. Local sport club "Favorite" supported.
Headlining the show was tough and extremely experienced WBO #11
cruiserweight Ali Ismailov, 34, against Contender III alumni Max
Alexander, 27, of Camden, NJ. Two-time former Olympian (2000 and 2004)
for Azerbaijan, Ismailov used his usual aggressiveness to press
defensive-minded Alexander around the ring. The American import
had his little share of success in early rounds forcing Ismailov
to stay back with his jab while initiating clinches and grabs when
Ali was able to break through Alexander’s outer defense to close
quarters. In middle rounds it became obvious that Max hadn’t enough
power neither to stop the onrushing foe nor to cope with his physical
power and determination; however, it was American’s uppercut that
bothered Ismailov most though never too much. In later rounds Ali
started looking for a finishing punch to knock Alexander out but
never succeeded. At the end of a fight night all three judges gave
the victory to Ismailov with lopsided scores: 100-90 (thrice). With
a harder-than-the-scores-tell win over American guest in a non-title
bout, WBO Latino king Ismailov moves up to 14-1-1 with 9 KOs while
Alexander drops down to less impressive 14-3-2, 2 KOs.
In what seemed to be the most compelling match-up of the evening,
Russian-based Armenian Gennady Martirosian (14-1, 4 KOs) scored the
biggest win of his life to date with a well-earned unanimous decision
over Hungarian kayo artist Attila Kovacs (24-2, 17 KOs), who was 22-0
since losing his third only pro encounter. Light-hitting but busy
Martirosian used his superior speed to fool slow Kovacs and to wear
his opponent down with a relentless bodypunching. Attila was down
in round four after a slip and looked increasingly tired down the
stretch. Martirosian punctured his unanimous decision over Hungarian
with some successful exchanges at the end.
Uzbek puncher Sherzod Nazarov (9-3, 8 KOs) had never lived up to
expectations during his clash with Spanish-based Columbian Nacho
Mendoza (24-4-2, 15 KOs) and failed to make a quantum leap in
his opposition suffering a brutal six-round kayo loss. Nazarov was
brainlessly aggressive since round one taking too many punches only to
pin his opponent to the ropes without any subsequent success. Sherzod
was briefly down in round one after a quick Columbian counter
double. He won next three rounds on sheer aggression but was decked
again in round five and saved by the bell. It was clear Nazarov had
nothing left and Mendoza proved the point in the sixth stanza knocking
Sherzod out with another series of hooks.
Other results
Maxim Maslov (6-0, 4 KOs) W6 Remigiyus Ziasus (7-16, 5 KOs) Daniel
Peretyatko (14-18, 5 KOs) TKO5 Stanislav Lukyanchikov (0-4) Ulugbek
Buribaev (8-0, 7 KOs) TKO2 Alexander Lykov (1-9-1) Sherzod Alimjanov
(11-0, 9 KOs) TKO2 Leonty Vorontsuk (19-35-1, 6 KOs) Samariddin
Kholboev (6-2, 2 KOs) W6 Ravil Mukhamadiarov (7-24, 6 KOs) Mikhail
Makarov (7-0, 2 KOs) W6 Sergey Bazenkov (1-4)
Kazan
The most active Russian promoter German Titov joined his efforts with
local boss Rinat Yusupov to arrange a five-bout show at KRK Pyramide,
highlighted by two national championships, on Friday night.
In the featured fight of the evening, 23-year old Chelyabinsk native
Vasily Lepikhin (5-0, 3 KOs) put on a boxing clinic by beating his
previously undefeated Barnaul opponent Rudolf Asaturyan (8-1, 4 KOs)
to the punch and scoring a knockdown in round four. As a result,
Lepikhin acquired Russian light heavyweight belt, previously owned
by Asaturyan, with a unanimous decision over ten rounds.
In a minor upset, light hitting Fariz Kasimov (7-1-1, 1 KOs) showed an
unexpected power to floor local favorite Timur Gimaev (7-1-1, 2 KOs)
in the ninth round and to receive a well-earned unanimous decision
over him along with a vacant Russian light welterweight title.
Hot prospect Maxim Vlasov (13-0, 5 KOs) was once scheduled to take
part in the show but his match with tough Belarus journeyman Yuri
Tsarenko was abruptly cancelled due to Tsarenko’s health issues.
Other results: Shavkhat Madaminov (8-1, 2 KOs) TKO 8 Takhir Ibragimov
(0-18) Valery Volozhenin (11-0-1, 5 KOs) MD 6 Tolgat Dosanov (10-11-1,
4 KOs) Albert Valeev (5-1, 3 KOs) UD 6 Mahsud Jumaev (2-5-1)
St. Petersburg
Meanwhile, on Friday night at Casino Conti, IBF #9 cruiserweight Vadim
Tokarev (25-1-1, 18 KOs), the only fighter to defeat Ismailov in pros,
made his bright return after a year-long layoff stopping overmatched
Chris Thomas (16-9-2, 8 KOs) of USA in round three. After two
relatively even rounds Tokarev exploded with a brutal attack dropping
Thomas to his knees early in round four. The American was able to get
up only to be floored again soon after that; this time for the count.
Also, Alexander Kotlobay (11-1-1, 7 KOs) has quickly demolished Belarus
Igor Shukalo (15-15, 8 KOs) to capture the WBC CISBB 200lb belt.
Ramenskoye
A tiny card, established by Makha Shermat on Oct. 4, was highlighted
with another victory for rising bantam prospect Sakhib Usarov (10-0, 5
KOs) who scored a unanimous eight-round decision over Zhanat Zhakiyanov
(3-1, 1 KO).