Artem Dalakian vs. Josber Perez - Early Results From Kiev
Feb 8, 2020 • 1:48 PM ET
KIEV--In the second semifinal, the tourney's dark horse Igor Faleush (1-1, 1 KO) started very fast against more experienced Ruslan Belinskiy, clearly taking the first round on his sheer aggression and punching power. Belinskiy got better in the second round, showing smart skills to frustrate the bigger opponent. Belinskiy (now 5-0, 1 KO) clearly took the last round against Faleush, who has gassed himself out. The decision was unanimous but no scores were announced. BoxingScene had it 29-28 - for Belinskiy.
His right eye almost completely shut, 18-year old Stanislav Sudoplatov (4-0, 1 KO) continued his controversial route to the final of "The Only Champion" show tourney but eaking out another dubious nod - this time over Rodion Huzko (4-3-1, 1 KO), 19. Sudoplatov put his heart out but it wasn't enough to overcome Huzko, who showed more refined technique in the first couple of rounds to seriously overwhelm Sudoplatov in the third. Still, two judges had it 29-28 - for Sudoplatov, and the third had it 28-29 - for Huzko, who is a loser by way of the split decision. Sudoplatov's participation in the final remains a question due to a huge swelling over his right eye.
48 years of age is no joke, but Ukrainian fight veteran Oksana Romanova utilized what is left of her energy and a surreal amount of experience to put up a solid fight to rising Russia-based Armenian Sofia Abramyan (5-1, 2 KOs). Romanov was aggressive, hardly polished, very crude with her defense but also determined. Smaller, stockier Abramyan was more refined and busy with her punches.
At the end of eight grueling rounds, on judges somehow had it a draw - 76-76. Two other got it right: 78-76 and 80-73 - for Sofia Abramyan, who is now UBO international super flyweight titist. Ever-brave Romanova is now 10-30-1, 2 KOs.
Rising super lightweight Zoravor Petrosyan showcased his best skills... and vast offensive arsenal in a stoppage victory over Belarussian journeyman Nadzir Bakshiev (5-9-3). Shorter Bakshiev was very aggressive and did his best to trouble Petrosyan but the Ukainian Armenian was his usual elusive self. In the second round, Bakshiev went down after a picturesque right upperct from Petrosyan just on is way in. As rounds went by, Petrosyan's advantage go bigger and the Belarussian was on a receiving end. The end came midst into the fifth, when Petrosyan connected with a very well-placed left uppercut to Bakshiev's solar plexus, dropping him down for a count. he is 7-0, 3 KOs, now.
Young stocky light heavyweight Andrey Isakov (3-0, 2 KOs) outpointed professional kickboxer Serhiy Chychykalov (1-8) over four rounds. Isakov dropped Chychykalov twice in the second round but former prizefighter-turned-referee Kostya Rovenskiy didn't rule them that way. Decision was unanimous for Isakov.
In the final quarterfinal, Ruslan Belinskiy (4-0, 1 KO), who has previously defeated two other participants (Serhiy Soroka and Rodion Huzko), got the better of Vadym Tatarenko (1-0, 1 KO) over three in a one-sided beatdown. Belinskiy made Tatarenko bleed from the nose and clearly dominated in every minute of every round. Scores weren't announced but this decision was unanimous.
Debutant Igor Faleush (1-0, 1 KO) was too much for too young / too green for Mikita Rybka (2-1, 1 KO), dropping him twice with smashing right hooks in the first round for a quickie. Rybka, 17, was dazed and was unable to continue after the second knockdown. That was the third quarterfinal of "The only champion" tourney.
Youth prevailed in the second quarterfinal, as 18-year old Stanislav Sudoplatov (3-0, 1 KO) got somewhat questionable split decision over 27-year old Serhiy Soroka (3-3-1). Soroka looked more consistent than Sudoplatov, who erupted with punches early on only to leave his fuel tank at a near-zero capacity during the third round. Soroka often froze Sudoplatov in the centre of the ring with stinging right hands. Sudoplatov also did much holding and wrestling but was failed to be penalized by the referee. One judge had it 30-27 - for Soroka, but he was overruled by the other two: 29-28 and 30-28. BoxingScene also had it 30-28 - but for Soroka.
In the first quarterfinal of the Ukrainian version of famed Prizefighter series, now held at the welterweight limit and bannered "The Only Champion", Rodion Huzko (4-2-1, 1 KO) outpointed local Azerbaijani Tamerlan Hyuseynov (1-3-1, 1 KO) over three. Huzko was better during the first two rounds but Hyuseynov, 28, came back strong against his 19-year old opponent in the final round. Scores were: 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 - for a younger boxer.
