By Alexey Sukachev

While Kazan welcomed Russia’s biggest boxing event in recent memory (if not ever) on November 4 (with two major title fights, Alexander Povetkin as its headliner, and a number of other competitive clashes) the local fight scene was also dominated by a chain of low-profile club tourneys, which featured some relatively sound names, furious encounters and even upsets. Flourishing in mid-to-late November Russian prizefighting will continue its positive dynamics well into December of the year. Presented below is a review of accomplished activities and a brief look in the nearest future of the Russian fight club scene.

Moscow glamorous Boxing Gym & Academy (and a related promotional company) staged its third pro-boxing installment in 2015, once again promoted by young Oleg Zhadobin at Luzhniki, Moscow, Russia. Bannered “Friday, 13th” it took place, well, on Friday 13th, and proved to be a huge disappointment at least for one local boxer.

In the main event, however, heavyweight hopeful Sergey Kuzmin improved to 5-0, 3 KOs, stopping Brazilian import Irineu Beato Costa Junior (18-6, 16 KOs) in three rounds. Kuzmin, 28 and former two-time Russian and European amateur champion, looked much better than in his most recent Moscow appearance, dropping his foe several times before a stoppage came at 2:21 of the third. Kuzmin, often paired with another bright talent Dmitry Bivol, also has a victory over former world title challenger Darnell “Ding-A-Ling-Man” Wilson in his resume.

Local Armenian Manvel Sargsyan (9-0, 5 KOs) dominated his Uzbek opponent Lazizbek Uzokov (3-9-2, 2 KOs) but the stoppage at 2:44 of the third was a result of the cut.
In the upset, Ukrainian veteran trialhorse Igor Pylypenko (5-23, 1 KO) unexpectedly outboxed local heavyweight favorite and former national champion Vladimir Goncharov (5-3, 4 KOs) over six rounds. Scores were 58-57 (twice) and 59-55 – for the 42-year old journeyman. Goncharov, who was 5-0 in June, lost his third straight – and this time to a boxer, he should have never lost. His previous losses came against 8-0 Ruslan Faifer and 12-0 Otto Wallin – also on points.

Other results:

Vladimir Kelesh (3-0, 2 KOs) UD 6 Anatoly Odnorog (1-1, 1 KO). Scores were 60-54 (thrice)

Andrey Sirotkin (6-0, 2 KOs) TKO 5 Alexander Tyushkin (0-1).

Nikita Miroshnichenko (2-0, 1 KO) UD 4 Andrey Polyakov (0-12). Scores were 40-36 (thrice)

Evgueny Shvedenko (1-0, 1 KO) TKO 1 Nikolay Kotelnikov (0-3). Time: 1:40.

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Well-known Russian (Ural-based) promoter German Titov produced another club show at PNTZ Palace of Culture in Pervouralsk, Russia, on Nov. 13. There were seven fights but one fighter to keep your eye on is 20-year old Mikhail Alekseev (5-0, 1 KO), who outpointed Musaib Asadov (1-3) over eight with identical scores – 80-72. Alekseev will be back as soon as Dec. 6 against 0-5 Fazliddin Ismonov (0-5) and then on Dec. 17 in E-burg for the seventh time in his debut year.

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Last Saturday, November 21, was another very busy day for Russian boxing community, as three separate club-level tourneys took their places in Moscow, Tolyatti and Ekaterinburg.

The biggest card was held by very active Armenian promoter Shamir Petrosyan at the KRC Arbat (a former casino) – with two ethnic Armenians fighting for the Russian national title in the main event. The result was a sensational one, as totally unheralded Petros Ananyan (3-0-1, 1 KOs) dropped much more experienced champion Vaginak Tamrazyan (10-1, 3 KOs) at 2:17 of the first round to get a very narrow unanimous decision over ten rounds: 95-94, 95-94 and 99-91. Tamrazyan, who has previously scored wins over three undefeated fighters (with records 13-0, 6-0 and 5-0-1) this year and stopped 26-10-2 Oscar Roberto Medina in September, was making the first defense of his belt.

On the same card, Pavel Malikov (6-0, 1 KO) got his second win after five years off the ring (as he has served his time), dropping Uzbek Sherzodbek Mamajonov (9-13-4, 6 KOs) in the fourth in getting 60-53 scores across the boards. Another notable prospect David Agadzhanyan improved to 8-0, 6 KOs, after a tough victory over Davit Oganisyan (1-3) – scores were: 58-56, 59-55 and 59-55. Agadhznyan previously fought five times in the UK, going 5-0, 4 KOs, in nine months.

In Tolyatti, where local promoter Andrey Petrov stages his show, middleweight Maxim Chemezov (13-1-1, 4 KOs) looked solid in his eight-round decision win over Ukrainian import Sergey Shevchuk (1-3). Scores were 80-72 (twice) and 79-73.

In Ekaterinburg (in a rare local show, which hasn’t been staged by German Titov), two prospects, guided by the Ural Boxing Promotions, got easy stoppage wins over less heralded opponents. Super lightweight Evgueny Pavko (12-0-1, 7 KOs) dropped his Uzbek opponent Mahsud Jumayev (10-10-1, 6 KOs) three times – once in the first and twice in the second round – before a mercy stoppage came in at 2:59 of the second round. Pavko got his fifth win this year.

Also, 20-year old lightweight prospect Soslan Tedeev (11-0, 9 KOs) stopped durable upset-minded Denis Kenzhegaliev (1-6, 1 KOs) for the first time in his opponent’s career to get TKO 4.

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This past Friday, Muscovite Valery Tretyakov (6-0, 3 KOs) ventured to the city of Voronezh and got the sixth win of his debut year by outpointing Kenyan import Francis Kimani (6-2-2, 4 KOs) over eight rounds. Kimani was down twice and lost 80-70 (twice) and 79-71 – on the judges’ scorecards.

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Former two-time light heavyweight world title challenger Dmitry Sukhotskiy (23-4, 16 KOs) revived his stagnating career just barely by edging former amateur standout Apti Ustarkhanov (11-2-2, 3 KOs) with a split decision over twelve rounds for a vacant WBC CISBB super middleweight title. Vladimir Igoshin had it 116-111 – for Sukhotskiy, Magomed Batsiev – 111-116 – for Ustarkhanov, and, finally, Dmitry Naumov had it 114-113 – just a point for a more experienced fighter.

The bout took place at Sukhotskiy’s hometown of Barnaul, Altay, Russia, and Petr Rubtsov was a promoter. Sukhotskiy, 34, previously pushed then-WBO champion Juergen Braehmer to his limits in a close decision loss in December 2009, and then was knocked out badly by Adonis Stevenson five years after. However, he also scored stoppage wins over notable contenders Aleksy Kuzimeski (2010), Nadjib Mohammedi (2011) and Eduard Gutknecht (2013).

On the same night, former Russian and PABA light middleweight champion Pavel Mamontov (11-1-2, 1 KO) collided with a familiar opponent. Fighting precisely a year after his first win over Argentinean expatriate Oscar Roberto Medina (26-12-2, 9 KOs) Mamontov earned a split decision over ten rounds: 98-92, 96-94, 93-97. A year ago, he won a unanimous decision over twelve. Also, super middleweight Karen Avetisyan (9-11-2, 4 KOs), one of only three men (other being Darnell Boone and Bernard Hopkins) to last a distance with Sergey Kovalev, earned just a draw against debutant Alexander Rudnev. Scores were 39-37, 38-38, 37-39.

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Former world title challenger Anton Novikov (29-1, 10 KOs) will kick off his comeback journey this coming Wednesday in Chelyabinsk, Russia. Novikov, who was last seen in the ring in August 2014, losing a spirited (and a bit controversial) unanimous decision to then-WBA light welterweight champion Jesse Vargas, will tune-up against aforementioned Uzbek Lazizbek Uzokov (3-9-2, 2 KOs).

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On Saturday, November 5th, unheralded featherweight Vyacheslav Mirzaev (4-0), who has never won against fighters with winning records, will make a jump up in class (at least, on paper) by taking on Tanzanian Issa Nampepeche (22-4-4, 10 KOs) for the obscure UBO 126lb title. The fight will serve as a main event of the show, promoted by Vasily Kostenko in Pyatigorsk, Russia.

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Two WBC EPBC (Eurasian Pacific Boxing Council) will be at stake in a two-fight rivalry between Armenians and Filipinos, which will somehow take place at the Artist nightclub in Moscow, Russia. The date is Dec. 12, which coincides with a proposed showdown between Roy Jones Jr. and Enzo Maccarinelli, and promoter is Aram Davtyan.
Quick-punching, switch-hitting lightweight Vage Sarukhanyan (11-1-1, 2 KOs) will collide with upset-minded Ray Lassinas (20-11-6, 12 KOs) for the interim crown, while undefeated light welterweight Manvel Sargsyan (9-0, 5 KOs) will clash against Ryan Sermona (18-7, 11 KOs) for a vacant belt in his weight class. Five more fights will constitute the undercard of the show.