By Peter Lim

Cruiserweight Medzhid Bektemirov raised his record to 10-0 (8 KOs) with a six-round split decision over veteran Zack Page, 21-41-3 (7 KOs), at the latest Savarese Boxing card at the Houston Club. A transplant to Houston from Russia, Bektemirov, 25 displayed his vaunted power in the opening round when a double left hook, first to the body and then to the head, sent Page reeling along the ropes. The Russian quickly cut off the ring and dropped Page with an overhand right.

Bektemirov continued to press the action throughout the bout but Page, 39, rarely gave the Russian the openings to land his bombs as he gradually slipped into survival mode. Page shut down Bektemirov's attack by hitting and holding and smothering the Russians charges by clinching. But apart from flicking out jabs and occasional flyswatter rights, Page did little in terms of offense to win the rounds. When Bektemirov managed to a clean punch it visibly stunned Page but he was too wily and elusive to allow the Russian to inflict further damage.

The scores were 60-53, 59-54 and a baffling 56-57. Boxingscene.com tallied it 60-54, five rounds for Bektemirov, including the 10-8 first, and one round even.

Featherweight Jerren Cochran, 6-0 (3 KOs), won a six-round shutout over David Green, 2-12-1 (1 KO). A slick defensive speedster, Cochran, 22, boxes like a hybrid between a right-handed Pernell Whitaker and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Stinging Green with cobra-like left jabs from the outside, he set up power punches and combinations before effortlessly gliding out of harms way. Green was dropped in the first round by a right to the temple and again in the second round by a two-fisted flurry. Cochran continued to bash and batter Green for the remainder of the bout but the tough and cocky Green stubbornly refused to wilt.

Welterweight Brian Jones, 2-0 (2 KOs), stopped Andre Lopez, 0-1, in the first round. Heavyweight southpaw Thomas Hawkins, 2-0, outpointed Tony Wilcox, 0-3, over four rounds.  

Tags: Medzhid Bektemirov