By Alexey Sukachev
In the main event of this card, organized in Vladikavkaz by the Ural Boxing Promotions, WBC #11 and IBF #12 cruiserweight Murat Gassiev (19-0, 13 KOs) continued his quiet road to the power with an easy stoppage of French national champion Engin Karakalpan (12-5-1, 5 KOs) within 99 seconds of the very first round.
21-year old Ossetian, who started his pro career at a tender age of 17, looks like the goods and his plenty of time for further development. He is also 5-0, 4 KOs, this year against a slowly upgrading opposition. Gassiev has also captured a vacant IBF regional cruiserweight title.
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Azerbaijani Rauf Aghayev (15-1, 5 KOs) just barely outpointed battle-tested journeyman Ruslan Berchuk (9-4, 5 KOs) over eight. Scores were: 76-75, 77-74 and 78-73 - for Aghayev.
This year's debutant Alexey Zubov (6-0, 4 KOs), who went 5-0, 4 KOs while fighting in the States, shut out experienced Uzbek Isroil Kurbonov (8-9-1, 3 KOs) over six. Scores were 60-54 (thrice).
Light heavyweight Evgueny Pavko (7-0-1, 3 KOs) outpointed experienced Georgian Mikheil Avakyan (26-17-4, 16 KOs) over eight. Scores were: 80-72, 79-73 and 79-74.
Lightweight Sadiki Momba (17-5-2, 5 KOs) tried hard but was convincingly defeated by local hero Soslan Tedeev (5-0, 4 KOs). He has gone the distance with previously unstoppable Tedeev though, trailing 54-59 on all three scorecards. Tedeev was deducted a point in the third for rabbit punching.