By Alexey Sukachev

Rostov-na-Donu - IBF #13 and WBC #14 cruiserweight Dmitry Kudryashov (15-0, 15 KOs) has further strengthened his claim as the hardest hitter in his weight class with the second-round stoppage of Romanian veteran Giulian Ilie (20-8-2, 6 KOs) in a non-title ten-round main event of the evening.

Ilie, who had been stopped just once before that (by Rakhim Chakhkiev) looked soft and appeared out-of-shape against the plodding but powerful Russian. Kudryashov was able to pin Ilie to the ropes and to test his belly in the first round. Ilie continued to take punishment (namely with a right uppercut and a left hook) through round two. At the end of the second stanza, his face distorted in pain, he signalized he had problems with a right hand. During the break between the rounds his injury was confirmed.

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Fan-favorite Aliklych Kanbolatov (10-2, 5 KOs) captured a vacant UBO middleweight title with a scrappy fifth-round TKO over a well-travelled Tanzanian Mada Maugo, who has been fighting in Russia for the fourth time (losing thrice before). Maugo was very annoying for Kanbolatov, trying to provoke him by using dirty tactics and antics. Kanbolatov responded symmetrically using rabbit punches to an extent. Maugo was down once in the third, once in the fourth and once in the fifth round - mostly due to barely legal punches by Kanbolatov. The referee stopped the bout after the last knockdown at 1:11 of the round. The Tanzanian is now 17-12, with 12 KOs.

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Viskhan Murzabekov (10-0, 5 KOs) made a very short work of Tanzanian Ramadhani Shauri (18-6-1, 10 KOs), stopping him within a round to retain his WBC Youth I/C welterweight title for the very first time.

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Super middleweight Varazdat Chernikov (8-2, 3 KOs) acquired a vacant UBO I/C title beating Tanzanian veteran Karama Nyilawila (18-11-2, 10 KOs) in six rounds. Nyilawila was awkward but Chernikov has wisely used his left hook to the body, effectively slowing and then stopping the Tanzanian. The fight was ended midst into the sixth when Nyilawila felt a full effect after a left shot to the liver by Chernikov.

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In a minor upset, undefeated but untested Chechen heavyweight kayo artist Apti Davtaev (8-0-1) was held to a sensational draw by a little-known Croatian Ante Verunitsa (3-1-1, 1 KO). Aggressive and hulking Davtaev had major issues with Verunitsa's upper body movement and his elusiveness. The Croatian answered sporadically but was surprisingly effective doing that. He finished the fight strongly while Davtaev looked to be out of gas. Final scores were: 59-56 (Davtaev), 55-59 (Verunitsa) and 57-57 (a draw). BoxingScene scored the contest 58-56 - for the Chechen boxer.

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In a battle between two hard-nosed Chechen light heavyweights, former amateur standout Apti Ustarkhanov (8-1-2, 1 KOs) decisioned fellow compatriot Murad Dalkhaev (3-4, 2 KOs) over eight rounds with a unanimous decision. Dalkhaev pressed the action all the time but Ustarkhanov was elusive and also landed his punches at a highter percentage. BoxingScene had it 58-56 - also for Apti.

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Chechen cruiserweight/heavyweight Arbi Madaev (7-1, 2 KOs) just barely squeaked past recent debutant Andrey Zapisov (0-2) over four rounds. Madaev was better and faster and also connected with more punches, but Zapisov took it well and answered aggressively in the fourth round, rocking Madaev with an overhand right forcing a standing eight count from the referee. BoxingScene had it 38-37 - for Madaev.